Jasper wildfire | 30% of structures damaged

A preliminary map of damage to the town of Jasper, Alberta, has been released by the municipality. The wildfire that ravaged the town earlier this week continues to burn out of control in the national park.

“The pain our city is experiencing is beyond comprehension,” Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said in a statement from the city. “Our homes were filled with memories, and were homes to our families, our friendships and our community.”

Premier Danielle Smith, along with Richard Ireland and other dignitaries, toured the evacuated town on Friday, where they saw the burned remains of the house where the mayor himself grew up. The city has created a preliminary damage map, which it has made public on its website. It shows destroyed buildings in red, and visible damage in yellow.

Parks Canada estimated that 30% of Jasper’s structures were damaged by the wildfire, and 358 of the town’s 1,113 structures were destroyed.

“I want to extend my sincere condolences to all those who have suffered loss. We are here to support the entire Jasper community,” said Alan Fehr, Parks Canada’s Jasper Field Unit Superintendent, in a statement.

Parks Canada also said the wildfire that ravaged the city is still not under control, and is expected to intensify in the coming days due to warmer weather. It continues to threaten the city’s north end.

Visible hot spots in the town of Jasper have been extinguished, however. Firefighters continue to patrol for any renewed fire activity, and planned to conduct an infrared scan of the town on Saturday night and Sunday morning to identify any remaining hot spots that need to be extinguished. Areas and structures on the outskirts of the town continue to be sprayed to protect them from the fire.

Parks Canada also said that about 15 pets, who could not be recovered by their owners before the evacuation, were taken in and housed by the Hinton and District SPCA, while waiting to be reunited with their families.

With information from The Canadian Press