A growing wildfire has reached the town of Jasper, burning down several structures and forcing first responders to evacuate.
Jasper National Park officials said the wildfire had reached the Jasper townsite around 6:40pm Tuesday evening.
⚠️⚠️ Jasper Complex Wildfire ⚠️⚠️
Current as of: July 24, 7:10 pm, Mountain Time
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Around 6:40 pm this evening, wildfire reached the Jasper townsite.— Jasper National Park, Parks Canada (@JasperNP) July 25, 2024
“Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, as well as responders from Alberta and other provinces are continuing with efforts to protect the town. Firefighters remain in town combating multiple structural fires and are working to protect critical infrastructure,” said officials at the time.
However, at 8:30pm, “wildland firefighters and others without self contained breathing apparatuses” were forced to evacuate due to bad air quality.
As of 8:30 pm this evening, it was determined that air quality had deteriorated to the point that wildland firefighters and others without self contained breathing apparatuses needed to evacuate to Hinton.
— Jasper National Park, Parks Canada (@JasperNP) July 25, 2024
“Structural firefighters remain in town and are working to save as many structures as possible and to protect critical infrastructure, including the wastewater treatment plant, communications facilities, the Trans Mountain Pipeline and others.”
Pictures shared on social media show the Maligne Lodge in Jasper fully engulfed in flames.
Brace yourself. This is a tough image to see of Jasper- Maligne Lodge. Same eyewitness says PetroCan/ Brightspot were hit. This was over half hour ago.
(Please note, I did not take this photo and was personally sent it under the guise the photo capturer wants anonymity) pic.twitter.com/NcDgwPuGAm— Lindsay Warner (@Lindsay_Warner) July 25, 2024
According to reports, the fire has also reached the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
My brother who lives in Jasper just sent me this picture and a note saying the Jasper Park Lodge is gone. If so, pretty sad to lose such a historic property. pic.twitter.com/a5BLlpkNYZ
— Robert (@theHallowedgold) July 24, 2024
Just before 8pm, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to X to say federal assistance will be provided to Alberta to help fight the wildfires.
We have received Alberta’s request for federal assistance, and we’re mobilizing every necessary resource available.
To everyone who is fighting these wildfires or helping those evacuating from Jasper: thank you.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 25, 2024