Fast-moving wildfires have devastated up to half of the historic Canadian town of Jasper, officials report, as firefighters battle to save as many buildings as possible. Entire streets in Alberta province have been leveled by the blazes, with video footage showing smoldering rubble where homes once stood.
Cooling temperatures brought some relief on Thursday, but park authorities warned that the fires were still out of control, and further warm weather was forecast. In addition to the fires in Alberta, hundreds of active blazes are burning in neighboring British Columbia, as well as in western US states, including California and Utah.
While no fatalities have been reported, approximately 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents have fled the mountainous area in Alberta, a popular tourist destination. Jasper National Park reported late on Thursday that about 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) of land had been affected. However, neighboring communities were not at risk.
Efforts to map the fires have been hampered by strong winds, the extreme nature of the fire, and heavy smoke. During a news conference on Thursday, a tearful Alberta Premier Danielle Smith struggled to convey the extent of the damage, estimating that “potentially 30 to 50%” of buildings had been destroyed.
“There is no denying that this is the worst nightmare for any community,” Smith said, adding that Jasper National Park had been “a source of pride” for many generations. She became visibly emotional as she described the beauty of the park and its significance to the community, which heavily relies on tourism. The park, along with nearby Banff National Park, attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors each year.
Rail, phone, and power services in the area have been affected, according to CBC News. Karyn Decore, the owner of the Maligne Lodge in Jasper, was on holiday when she learned her hotel had burned down. On Wednesday night, she received a photograph of the building engulfed in flames.
“I was horrified and devastated when I saw that photo,” Decore told the BBC. “I think it’s going to take a couple of days for the shock to wear down.” She added that it was hard for everyone to comprehend the loss but expressed her intention to rebuild the lodge.
