The park's social media account said the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported.
EDMONTON — One of two raging, wind-whipped fires menacing Jasper, Alta., roared into town Wednesday night and began burning buildings.Pictures on social media depicted lodges and other buildings wrapped in fiery sheets of orange flame.
As the flames consumed more fuel, officials said the air quality dropped to dangerous levels, prompting fire crews without breathing apparatus to evacuate to the nearby community of Hinton. A few hours earlier, all first responders were ordered out of Jasper National Park for their safety and to give fire crews more room to operate.Jasper was under attack by fires from the north and south, and the town’s 5,000 residents -- along with 20,000 park visitors -- have already left.The southern fire had been reported eight kilometres distant from the town, but Katie Ellsworth, with Parks Canada, said strong wind gusts swooping in behind it sent it racing.
B.C., dealing with its own multiple wildfires and evacuees, did not have the capacity to help Alberta, officials said. "Every single person in town was beelining to one exit from about six different routes and so you get bottleneck, backups and congestion,” she said.
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Multiple structures ablaze as wildfire roars into Jasper, Alta., townsiteEDMONTON — One of two raging, wind-whipped fires menacing Jasper, Alta., has roared into town and begun burning buildings. Park officials say the fire entered the southern edge of the community at about 6:40 p.m.
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Multiple structures ablaze as wildfire roars into Jasper, Alta., townsiteEDMONTON — One of two raging, wind-whipped fires menacing Jasper, Alta., has roared into town and begun burning buildings. Park officials say the fire entered the southern edge of the community at about 6:40 p.m.
Read more »
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Read more »
Multiple structures ablaze as wildfire roars into Jasper, Alta., townsiteEDMONTON — One of two raging, wind-whipped fires menacing Jasper, Alta., roared into town Wednesday night and began burning buildings. Parks officials say the fire entered the southern edge of the community about 6:40 p.m.
Read more »
Multiple structures ablaze as wildfire roars into Jasper, Alta., townsiteThe park's social media account said the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported.
Read more »