'Voluntary' Jasper townsite re-entry will start on Friday: officials
CTV
Jasper residents will be able to start returning home on Friday, Aug. 16, officials announced on Monday.
Jasper residents will be able to start returning home on Friday, Aug. 16, officials announced on Monday.
All residents and business owners will be able to return on Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. when Highway 16 is open to traffic.
Re-entry is possible because the fire danger is lower, although officials warn the state of local emergency remains in place and the town will likely remain on evacuation alert.
Critical services have also been restored to allow for habitation.
"We've restored emergency services to provide a basic level of service. So we have fire services, EMS or ambulance services, police services, as well as 911, dispatch services have been restored," Christine Nadon, incident commander for the municipality of Jasper, told reporters on Monday.
"Critical services are ongoing. They must be restored to provide a basic level of service, which we anticipate will be met by Friday. Electricity to critical infrastructure is restored to 95 per cent, natural gas to 85 per cent, telecommunications to 95 per cent, water 30 per cent, wastewater 30 per cent, and health care 10 per cent."
Nadon warns that while residents are being allowed to re-enter, even those who have not lost homes should have a backup plan for where they will sleep Friday night.
