July 24, 2024: Images of destruction emerged from one of Alberta’s most popular and scenic destinations as the Jasper wildfire reached the mountain town on Wednesday night, July 24. The fire, burning inside Jasper National Park, arrived at the townsite around 6 p.m. The situation rapidly became too dangerous, leading to the evacuation of some first responders.
Parks Canada confirmed that multiple buildings in the town were impacted. According to James Eastham, the wildfire information officer for the Jasper Complex Wildfire, significant numbers of structural firefighters were in town actively fighting fires. However, he could not confirm the number of locations or specific structures lost at that time.
The historic Jasper Park Lodge, one of the most well-known resorts in the area, was affected by the fire. In contrast, other parts of the resort remained untouched as of 9:30 p.m. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts expressed devastation over the situation and relief that all colleagues and guests were safely evacuated.
Unfortunately, the Maligne Lodge was destroyed at the southwest end of town. Karyn Decore, president and CEO of Decore Hotels, confirmed the loss late Wednesday night.
As of 10 p.m. on July 24, Parks Canada acknowledged the significant loss within the townsite and noted the firefighters’ efforts to save the rest of the town overnight. Structural firefighters focused on protecting critical infrastructure, such as the wastewater treatment plant, communications facilities, and the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
Help arrived from various parts of Alberta and Canada, including 19 members of Calgary’s Canada Task Force 2, crews from St. Albert and Strathcona County, and fire engines from smaller communities. Due to the extreme fire situation, the Alberta government requested military assistance, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed federal support, including Canadian Forces resources and emergency wildfire resources.
The southern-burning fire reached the townsite’s outskirts just before 6 p.m. on July 24 and entered the town about 40 minutes later. Eastham reported that the fire spread quickly, driven by strong winds from the south and southeast. Despite efforts to control the fire, including aerial suppression and fireguards, the fast-moving fire proved difficult to contain. Water bombers were unable to assist due to dangerous flying conditions.
An evacuation order for Jasper National Park, including the townsite, was issued on Monday night, July 22, displacing about 25,000 people forced to head west into British Columbia. Reception centers were set up in Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie due to the overwhelmed facilities in Valemount, B.C.
Efforts continued to protect the town and limit wildfire growth towards critical infrastructure, with Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper mobilizing resources from federal, provincial, and municipal agencies.
The situation is still evolving, with updates on the wildfire and response efforts coming in. Stay tuned to Y!Alberta for the latest developments as this story unfolds.
