Jasper evacuees wait to learn fate of homes, businesses as troops join wildfire fight
CBC
Uncertainty is giving way to grief for people forced from their homes in Jasper, as more details emerge about the destruction caused by a wildfire that ripped through the mountain town.
A massive wall of flames moved in Wednesday, levelling entire neighbourhoods. Parks Canada officials estimated Friday that 358 of the town's 1,113 structures — about one-third of all buildings — were destroyed.
Everyone who evacuated from the historic community should soon have answers about the fate of their homes and businesses: park officials are promising to soon release a detailed list of all properties lost in the fire.
Parks Canada officials have urged patience as their crews, with help from newly-arrived troops, continue to battle the flames while also verifying the scope of the damage, house-by-house.
"It takes time to get this information correct, we understand your frustrations and we will publicly share more information when we are in a better position to do so," Parks Canada said in a statement late Friday.
"We want to avoid telling people they lost their home when they didn't, or saying they didn't lose their home when they did."
It's unclear when residents will be allowed to return and begin the daunting process of rebuilding destroyed properties and repairing those still standing. The fire is among 164 wildfires burning across the province, as of noon MT Saturday, according to Alberta Wildfire.
Officials from Alberta Wildfire and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency will provide an update on the ongoing wildfire situation at 2 p.m. MT Saturday. Watch it live with CBC News.
The provincial government will host a telephone town hall for wildfire evacuees on Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Details on how to join are available here.
The fire, described as a monster with flames reaching 100 metres high, hit Jasper late Wednesday, scorching portions of the town about 365 kilometres west of Edmonton.
Two wildfires — one north, the other south — had threatened Jasper for days, forcing thousands to evacuate Monday evening as the flames flared dangerously amid powerful winds.
As the southern fire spread across the townsite and beyond, it merged with the northern fire.
What is now called the Jasper Wildfire Complex, which also includes the Utopia wildfire near Miette Hot Springs, had burned an estimated 36,000 hectares as of Thursday night.
The fire continues to burn out of control, but conditions are expected to temporarily calm amid cooler, wet weather in the mountain park this weekend.
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