Jasper Incinerated by Wildfire

A wildfire destroyed parts of Jasper, Alberta, a historic town in the Canadian Rockies, after more than quadrupling in size this week.

Two wildfires from the northeast and south approached the iconic tourist town on Monday, forcing its 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors to flee.

On Wednesday evening, 60 mph winds blew the southern fire to the edge of town. It then spread through Jasper at “approximately 15 meters per minute,” according to a Parks Canada official.

Wall of flames: The two fires converged and grew to engulf 36,000 hectares (138 square miles) of land. Fire crews faced flames 300 to 400 feet high.

Any firefighter will tell you there is little to nothing you can do when you have a wall of flames coming at you like that. Nobody anticipated that fire to come so fast, so large and so quickly.
—Mike Ellis, minister of Public Safety of Alberta

Eventually, first responders were forced to evacuate, leaving some firefighters behind to protect critical infrastructure. Water bombers could not approach the area due to poor flying conditions.

Destruction: Alberta’s government estimates 30 percent to 50 percent of Jasper’s buildings have been destroyed. Most of the damage is to homes and lodges. Some facilities—notably schools, a hospital, emergency services building and the activity center—were saved.

No one was injured.

There is no denying that this is the worst nightmare for any community.
—Danielle Smith, Alberta premier

Rainfall on Thursday lightened the fire, and more is expected through Friday.

Devastated: Wildfires are not uncommon to Canada. Currently 177 fires are burning across Alberta; over 400 fires are burning in the neighboring province of British Columbia.

But Jasper National Park is considered one of Canada’s most beautiful and cherished locations. Its devastation will be felt throughout the nation.

To learn why natural disasters are becoming more devastating and common, request our free booklet Why ‘Natural’ Disasters?