Jasper wildfire under control nearly 2 months since evacuation: Parks Canada
Landon Shepherd, incident commander with the parks agency, told an online media briefing Saturday the change in status means the fire has been sufficiently suppressed to ensure it won’t spread outside of its defined perimeter.
Nearly seven weeks after a wildfire forced the evacuation of Jasper National Park and destroyed nearly a third of the townsite’s structures, Parks Canada has declared the fire officially under control.
Landon Shepherd, incident commander with Parks Canada, said during an online briefing on Saturday that the fire has been sufficiently contained to prevent it from spreading beyond its established perimeter, which spans 278 kilometers.
The fire’s status was last updated on August 17, when it was downgraded from "out of control" to "being held," meaning it was no longer expected to reach critical areas. This change came just one day after residents were allowed to return to the Jasper townsite on August 16.
Shepherd cautioned that smoke and occasional flames might still be visible within the fire zone through early winter.
“While today’s progress is significant, there is still much work ahead. Our efforts won’t stop with the 'under control' status on this large and complex wildfire. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Municipality of Jasper on the road to rebuilding and recovery,” Shepherd said.
The fire prompted the evacuation of 5,000 town residents and 20,000 visitors to Jasper National Park in late July.
Despite the fire being controlled, the status of park amenities remains unchanged. Many campgrounds and trails are still closed, and reopening will depend on ensuring safety from fire-weakened trees. While Highway 16, Highway 93N, the Columbia Icefield area, Miette Road, Miette Hot Springs, the Jasper townsite, and areas around Pyramid Lake are accessible, other roads remain closed, as indicated on the park's website.
