Jasper Wildfire Becomes Largest in a Century, Evacuations Ordered

JASPER, Alberta (AP) — A devastating wildfire in Jasper National Park has become the largest recorded in the area in a century, destroying hundreds of structures and prompting the evacuation of over 20,000 residents. Parks Canada officials announced that the fire, which has already claimed 358 of the town's 1,113 buildings, could continue to burn for months. Deputy incident commander Landon Shepherd indicated that firefighting efforts would likely extend for at least three months. Despite receiving approximately 1.2 centimeters of rain recently, hot spots remain active near the community. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has proposed organizing bus tours for evacuated residents to assess the damage, but incident commander Christine Nadon cautioned that conditions are still unsafe for such activities due to hazardous chemicals from burned structures and ongoing fire activity. Nadon, who lost her own home in the blaze, emphasized the need for safety before allowing residents to return. Premier Smith noted that it may take around 28 days for residents to be permitted back into Jasper, drawing parallels to the recovery timeline following the 2016 Fort McMurray fire. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, fire risk is reportedly improving due to recent rain and cooler temperatures, although approximately 385 fires continue to burn across the province, with six classified as posing significant threats to people and property.