Alberta opens registration portal for Jasper residents to tour wildfire damaged townsite
Out-of-control Jasper wildfire grows as weather heats up
The Alberta government opened up registrations on Friday for Jasper residents who want to see what's left of their destroyed or damaged homes.
Mike Ellis, Alberta's minister of public safety and emergency services, said people will get more information once they register. He said the tours are limited to people whose homes were damaged and destroyed, and participating residents will not be allowed to get off the bus.
There is still no date for when these tours will start. Ellis said this will be determined by the incident commander.
"Right now, the tours must occur under very controlled circumstances with limited numbers," he said.
He said the wildfire is still active, plus the properties are full of hazardous materials and debris. Ellis said organizers want to make sure the residents have immediate access to mental health supports.
"We are deeply sympathetic to the frustration some people may be feeling at being asked to to wait for more details, but please know that this is a priority for us and we're working to get everything ready as soon as possible in the best and safest way possible," Ellis said.
Hot, dry weather returns
The Jasper Wildfire Complex increased by 7,500 hectares, Parks Canada said Thursday as temperatures in the area started to heat up.
Parks Canada estimated the size of the fire at 39,000 hectares on Thursday, then revised the size to 32,500 on Friday. Temperatures in Jasper are forecast to hit a high of 34 C on Friday.
In a Facebook post Thursday night, Parks Canada said the growth of the fire occurred mostly on the south perimeter. The agency said the fire is expected to grow on Friday due to continued hot and and dry weather conditions.
The fire is still classified as out of control.
James Eastham, incident information officer with Parks Canada, said Thursday was the first hot and dry day in a while. He said vegetation has lost the moisture it gained due to rain earlier this week.
"It will be hotter and drier than it was yesterday," Eastham said about Friday's forecast. "We do anticipate to see some fire growth in areas, especially ... where we're not actively suppressing the fire."
Alberta Wildfire used its night vision-equipped helicopter overnight to bucket the fire overnight. Eastham said it helps them keep watch on the fire overnight.
Eastham said firefighters are focusing on hot spots on the Pyramid Bench north of the townsite and the wastewater treatment plant.
"There are trees still smouldering in and around the community," he said. "That's where our efforts are being focused because we don't want to see those remaining smouldering fires have the opportunity to pick up in these hot dry conditions that we have."
Perimeter fencing
The heat follows nearly a week of cooler weather that allowed firefighters to put out hot spots in the town of Jasper and set up fireguards and sprinkler systems.
The fire forced the evacuation of 25,000 visitors and residents from the national park on July 22.
The flames reached the townsite two days later, destroying about 30 per cent of structures on the west side. The fire initially started as two, one encroaching Jasper from the east, the other from the south. The fires eventually joined into one.
The town of Jasper said bylaw officers are now going into hotels, campgrounds and approved accommodations such as bed and breakfasts to retrieve important documents and medications.
While officials are working on a plan, they say it still isn't safe for residents to enter the park to see their homes, or campers to retrieve their recreational vehicles.
Crews are expected to finish setting up perimeter fencing around buildings destroyed by fire by Saturday.
The Canadian Red Cross opened up an evacuee reception centre in Hinton, a town to the east of Jasper National Park that has served as the headquarters of the fire's incident command.
Transport trucks are still allowed to travel through the park along Highway 16 at prescribed times. The road remains closed overnight and at certain times during the day to keep access open for vehicles dedicated to firefighting and recovery efforts.
Seniors who went to Valemount, B.C., after they were forced from Jasper last week returned to Alberta on Friday.
Ten residents of the Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge and 15 residents from the Pine Grove Manor were taken by a bus that was escorted by the RCMP along Highway 16 through Jasper National Park and back into Alberta. Both facilities are run by the Evergreen Foundation.
Kristen Chambers, CEO of the organization, said the Pine Grove Manor was destroyed when the fire entered Jasper last week. The seniors who lived there have been moved into hotels in Hinton. The seniors from Alpine Summit have been placed in other Evergreen Foundation properties in nearby communities.
Chambers said the seniors want to stick together wherever they are moved.
"They've lost everything now," she said. "And what they've got is their friendship and that sense of community and they're very anxious to rebuild and be as a group."
Chambers said she plans to meet with provincial officials next week. She said Evergreen Foundation wants to rebuild in Jasper.
Alberta Parks has closed some parks and provincial recreation areas in other parts of the province due to wildfire:
- Ram Falls Provincial Park.
- Peppers Lake Provincial Recreation Area.
- Peppers Lake Staging Area PRA.
- Aylmer PRA.
- Elk Creek PRA campground.
- Elk Creek Fish Pond PRA.
- Crescent Falls PRA.
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