A wildfire has had what Jasper’s mayor calls a “devastating impact” on the town after it swept through the evacuated community.
Here are the latest developments on the wildfire situation in Alberta (all times are MT):
11:45 a.m.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada says it has activated its virtual assistance program to provide information to residents affected by wildfires in Alberta.
The bureau says its Virtual Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion is staffed with trained personnel who can help address residents’ questions about their home, business and vehicle insurance policies.
Rob de Pruis, the national director of consumer and industry relations for the bureau, says his thoughts are with the Jasper community as the extent of the structure losses is still being assessed.
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11:30 a.m.
Parks Canada says “significant” structural firefighting reinforcements arrived in Jasper overnight to help get the wildfire situation under control.
It says officials with Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper are based in the Town of Hinton, about 80 kilometres to the east, as they manage the emergency.
The agency says officials understand that people are desperate for information about the status of their homes and community, but officials cannot yet share information about the extent of the damage at specific locations.
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11:15 a.m.
Parks Canada says Jasper National Park saw a small amount of rain overnight, helping reduce fire activity “slightly,” but it wasn’t enough to have a meaningful impact on the out-of-control blaze.
The agency says the emergency unfolded rapidly Monday night as two fires north and south of Jasper both reached the town within 48 hours.
It says the evacuation involved about 25,000 people from the town and the national park, and there have been no injuries reported as a result of the blazes.
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10:44 a.m.
Calgary emergency officials say they’re sending crews to help battle the Jasper wildfire.
Sue Henry, the head of Calgary’s emergency services, says 19 Calgary crews were headed north to the fire scene.
Calgary is the location of one of two evacuation centres set up to handle those fleeing the fires in Jasper National Park, with the other in Grande Prairie.
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10:44 a.m.
A social media video is showing widespread destruction in Jasper.
The images depict rain-slicked streets in the town and grey-black structures razed to charred foundations.
The video appears to have been shot from an emergency vehicle, with radio chatter about the firefighting efforts before the truck stops in front of a destroyed property and someone says “that’s mom and dad’s house.”
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2024.
