Jasper's burnt landscape could take more than a century to recover: wildfire expert

It could take more than a century for the freshly burned forest in Jasper National Park to regenerate into its previous postcard-perfect form, a wildfire expert says.

It could take more than a century for the freshly burned forest in Jasper National Park to regenerate into its previous postcard-perfect form, a wildfire expert says.

The dense forest's regrowth could be affected by how deep the fire burned into the ground and how many pine cones hatched like popcorn in the intense heat and released seeds — not to mention climate change more generally, said Jen Beverly, an associate professor with the University of Alberta's Department of Renewable Resources.

"This is not a catastrophe from an ecological perspective, but we do know there's a lot of uncertainty into the future," said Beverly, who has been studying wildfires for more than 25 years.

"Ecosystems are going to evolve and that might span decades to centuries where an open area becomes forested, then there's a disturbance, and now it's open again. We can't keep them like a postcard that doesn't ever change."

On July 22, wildfires cut road access through the park and forced the Jasper townsite's 5,000 residents, along with about 20,000 park visitors, to flee through smoke and ash. Two days later, the fire overwhelmed crews and hit the town, destroying one-third of its buildings.

Residents were allowed back Friday, but have been warned they may have to leave again with one hour's notice as the out-of-control fire continues to burn within the park.

Those returning were greeted by a changed landscape of blackened trees reduced to skeletons.