Mayor of Jasper says wildfire destruction ‘beyond description and comprehension’

The mayor of Alberta’s beloved mountain town of Jasper said wildfires that laid siege to the community Wednesday evening have caused destruction and loss that is “beyond description and comprehension.”

Mayor Richard Ireland, in a message posted to social media, said that the small town must come together as it reels from the devastation of wildfires that are still burning out of control in the area that have rolled through the townsite and Jasper National Park. He said the incident management team and fire responders are working valiantly to protect the town but that people’s safety is the first priority.

“I write to you today with profound sorrow as we begin to come to terms with the devastating impact of last night’s wildfire that has ravaged our beloved community. The destruction and loss that many of you are facing and feeling is beyond description and comprehension; my deepest sympathies go out to each of you,” said Mr. Ireland on Thursday.

“Your resilience and strength have always been the backbone of our community. In the coming days and weeks, we will rally together, support one another, and begin the daunting process of recovery.”

He said that the local government is working closely with other levels of government, volunteers and other organizations to co-ordinate relief efforts and provide essential information and resources to those that have been affected.

Parks Canada, in an update on Thursday, said approximately 25,000 people were safely evacuated from the Town of Jasper and the national park and no injuries have been reported.

The agency said this emergency “evolved rapidly” with the wildfire hitting the town about 48 hours after it was first reported.

‘Significant loss’ in Jasper as wildfires close in, burning buildings and forcing fire crews to retreat

Jasper National Park received a small amount of rain overnight. While the rain helped reduce fire activity slightly, it is not enough to have made a meaningful impact to the overall wildfire situation, which remains out of control,” said the update.

Firefighting reinforcements arrived throughout the night, said Parks Canada, and are continuing to fight back the blazes and protect infrastructure.

”While we understand people are desperate to know about the status of our community, homes, work places, businesses, and cherished places we will need some time to stabilize this incident as we access and assess structures,” said the agency.

The Canadian military is also on its way to help battle Alberta’s raging wildfires, which are burning in every corner of the province, said federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday morning. The army will help with evacuations, firefighting and airlift assistance, after the provincial government requested their help on Wednesday.

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan also wrote on social media on Thursday that he is on his way to Edmonton to help co-ordinate efforts with “various government agencies” to respond to the rapidly-evolving wildfire situation.

“Our priority is the safety and well-being of the affected community members,” said Mr. Sajjan.