Jasper wildfire: Here’s how quickly flames engulfed a town
It took less than two days for fast-moving wildfires to reach the Alberta Rocky Mountain town of Jasper, where multiple structures were burned Wednesday night.
Parks Canada first reported two wildfires burning within Jasper National Park — one north of the townsite, the other south — late Monday night. Before the night was over, the entire town and park was ordered to evacuate as crews struggled to combat the flames being whipped by high winds and dry conditions.
About 25,000 people were evacuated from the park, including roughly 5,000 residents of the town and merged into one fire.
By Wednesday evening, both wildfires had encroached on the town.
Here’s a timeline of how the situation unfolded. All times are local.
7 p.m.: The first wildfire burning to the northeast of the town of Jasper is reported to Parks Canada. A second fire to the south is reported shortly after.
8:35 p.m.: The Municipality of Jasper and Jasper National Park issue a “preventative” evacuation alert, warning of “multiple wildfires” burning in the park.
10 p.m.: A wildfire alert and evacuation order are issued for Jasper National Park, including the townsite, for the wildfire south of town. An updated alert incorrectly states the fire is expected to reach the town in five hours, but is corrected nearly an hour later to say the area should be evacuated within that time.
Evacuees are forced to travel west into British Columbia, then turn around and head to reception centres set up in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. Parks Canada later says “thousands” of people evacuated overnight, facing “wall-to-wall” traffic on Highway 16.
10 a.m.: Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis says during a provincial wildfire update that the
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