'It's just surreal': What Jasper wildfire evacuees are saying
Visitors and residents fear the worst as they recount evacuating the Alberta resort town
Jasper evacuees are fearing the worst, and some already mourning the loss of their homes, as they flee two wildfires tearing through the historic Alberta mountain town.
Images and videos on social media show flames consuming multiple buildings, including homes and well-known businesses in the Jasper National Park townsite.
Jasper resident Marc LeBlanc, who owns two liquor stores in town, told CBC News Network Thursday that his family's home was lost in the blaze.
"Our home burned to the ground yesterday, and we're just processing that," said LeBlanc, who was evacuated from the town with his wife and two kids and is staying with relatives in B.C.
"It's been really emotional. Lots of tears and lots of hugging. We're with other families who have lost their home as well."
The long road home
Tim Urbanovitch has his RV and has a home in Alberta to get back to. He just doesn't know how he is going to get there.
He was camping just south of the Jasper townsite on Monday when a wildfire ignited.
"We were sitting in a sun shelter, having a cool one, and the storm blew in and we saw lightning strikes," he said. "All of a sudden — a big brown cloud, which was kinda spooky looking. People started to panic in the campground, pulling out."
Shortly after that, a ranger came through the campsite and told everyone it was time to evacuate.
He and his companions spent the night camped out near Mt. Robson, on the B.C. side of the border. But most of the RV-suitable roads home are blocked. Finding places to stop on a route full of detours is challenging. All the RV campgrounds are already booked, he said.
Waiting for more information
Ashley Kliewer and her husband drove to Edmonton with their two kids, pet guinea pig and two cats in the vehicle. Now they are waiting to hear whether the fire reached their home.
"The lack of information is excruciating," she said. "I know at least a dozen families whose homes are gone. My understanding is the east end of town is completely burned."
She doesn't know if her home is still there, or if either of her family's restaurants is still standing.
One of those restaurants, the Peacock Cork & Fork, opened just last month.
"We poured every dollar, and then some, into getting this space open and it's such a beautiful concept. And now ... it's gone."
Kliewer is also co-owner of Raven Bistro in Jasper.
She said she doesn't know what to do next.
"We're very grateful.... People's outpouring of support has been amazing. But we have what's in our van, and I don't think anyone will be returning to Jasper any time soon," she said. "Life is not going to be anything near what it was. Really it's the end of an era."
Business owners fear the worst
Ben Nearingburg is owner of Starry Summit Mountain Adventures, a Jasper hiking guiding company. It's a small business he started operating with his fiancée just two years ago.
He has been looking at pictures of the fire tearing through the town and wondering how he can save his livelihood.
"It's just surreal the images you see of everyone's places on fire. Places you have so many memories of. It's so unbelievable how quickly things change."
He said he's been emailing everyone who had trips booked in the coming weeks, trying to explain the situation. To keep his business going, he will have to convince visitors to change their itineraries to activities outside the park.
Jasper resident Jessica Jackson told Edmonton AM she has been watching updates on social media and keeping in contact with other residents since evacuating the town.
She's assuming her house is gone.
"Yesterday, when we saw a picture of Maligne Lodge, which is just like a block-and-a-half from our house, then it really hit that [the fire] was in town, and that's probably it for our home," Jackson said.
'There's no cell service'
P.E.I. musician Catherine MacLellan was visiting friends in Jasper during her tour of Western Canada when the evacuation order came at 10 p.m. She says traffic was "bumper to bumper for hours and hours," with two of three exits out of Jasper closed due to encroaching fires.
"It was scary because there was this feeling that the fire could breach the town at any point. If you were stuck there in traffic and not able to get out, just the thought of that," said MacLellan.
"Once you hit the mountain road there's no cell service, so it's an intense place to be fleeing from in very slow traffic."
The group made it safely to Valemount, B.C. After a few hours of rest, MacLellan made the 12-hour drive to Calgary, where she had a place to stay with other friends.
Jasper was under threat from the north and south, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued Monday as the fires flared, forcing as many as 25,000 residents and visitors out.
Park officials have reported "significant loss" in Jasper but have not detailed the damage to specific buildings or neighbourhoods.
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With files from Kevin Yarr and Wallis Snowdon