Jasper National Park under wildfire evacuation order
Visitors, campers and residents of Jasper National Park were told to get out late Monday night as high temperatures and winds fanned the flames of a wildfire threatening the national park in western Alberta.
An Alberta Emergency Alert issued just before 10 p.m. MT and updated afterwards said there is a wildfire south of town.
An evacuation order has been issued for both the Jasper townsite and the rest of the national park.
Everyone in Jasper and Jasper National Park must evacuate now, the alert said, as the the fire is coming towards the community.
The alert initially said the fire was expected to reach the community in five hours, or around 3 a.m. Tuesday, but was later updated around 11 p.m. to clarify everyone in the community needed to be out by then.
It’s not known now when the flames might reach the townsite.
People were advised to check the Jasper National Park Facebook page and Municipality of Jasper page for updates.
A line of vehicles waiting to leave the Jasper townside as Jasper National Park is evacuated due to wildfire on Monday, July 22, 2024.
Parks Canada said evacuation were taking place, beginning at 10 p.m., and going until 3 a.m. Tuesday.
People in Jasper were told to head west on Highway 16/the Yellowhead towards British Columbia.
<a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy16?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#BCHwy16
is CLOSED for eastbound traffic due to wildfire. The highway remains open for westbound traffic into <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#BC for evacuees travelling from <a href=«https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alberta?src=hash&ref_src=» https:>#Alberta. More info on road conditions from <a href=«https://twitter.com/DriveBC?ref_src=» https:>@DriveBC:
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