This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.
12:45 p.m. MT: Parks Canada update
“Multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost” to wildfire, officials from Parks Canada and Jasper said.
However, they would not confirm the “30 to 50 per cent” estimate Alberta’s premier made earlier in the day, with a spokesperson saying, “At this time, those are not numbers that we have from the incident side, so we cannot confirm or speak to that at this time.”
They also would not provide a timeline for crews being able to assess and report back the extent of damage.
“Of course, it is one of the pressing issues for nearly all of our community right now. And yes, they are privy to posts on social media and other platforms. But until we can verify from people on the ground what is there, our stance is that it would be irresponsible to try and confirm things based on unverified facts,” Jasper mayor Richard Ireland told reporters.
“I appreciate people see that as a frustration, but we need the information before we share it. And we fully appreciate that those on the ground have a challenging job at their hands right now still fighting the fire and protecting some of the homes that still are standing.”
Pierre Martel with Parks Canada’s national fire management program said he expects campgrounds and recreational areas south of Jasper were “significantly” damaged.
The fire that was sparked about eight kilometres south of Jasper Monday evening by a lightning strike fuelled up quickly because of the extended drought conditions, he said.
“By the time the fires were detected, we already had significant smoke columns and it was already beyond capacity for doing quick initial attack,” he recalled.
By Wednesday, flames were 100 metres above the tree tops. Spotting – embers carried by the wind – allowed the blaze to move five kilometres in less than one hour.
“It’s just a monster at that point. There is (sic) no tools we have in our toolbox to deal with that at that point. You get out of the way, you retreat, and you do what you can to protect communities and infrastructure as best as you can.”
Martel’s team has not been able to better assess the size of the fire, which he said is in the “tens of thousands of hectares” likely.
More structural firefighters are on their way to the town to assist those already there.
Wildland firefighters, who left Jasper Wednesday evening because they did not have the respiratory equipment to stay while structures were burning, have returned to the front lines.
In total, 20,000 people – the majority of whom were visitors – safely left Jasper and Jasper National Park by Wednesday.
11:30 a.m. MT: Premier and Alberta Wildfire update
There are 176 wildfires burning in Alberta’s protected forests currently, 54 of which are burning out of control, Alberta Wildfire reported in a Thursday morning news conference.
That number does not include mutual aid fires such as the two near Jasper in which another agency – Parks Canada, in this case – is leading the fire response.
According to Alberta Wildfire public information officer Christie Tucker, 400 firefighters from Mexico, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are due to arrive in Alberta between Thursday and Monday.
They, as well as military resources, will be deployed where they are needed most, Tucker said.
Speaking about the winds that quickly pushed the fires in Jasper National Park toward the townsite on Wednesday, Tucker said, “We’re expecting more of those winds in the province today, which will raise the fire danger for those areas particularly that didn’t get much rain.”
Rain in parts of northern Alberta reduced “some” of the wildfire danger, she said, but it remains extreme in the northeast and south parts of the province.
Fighting tears, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told those listening to the press conference how she, like many Albertans, grew up going to Jasper with family.
“To those in Alberta and around the world who have experience the magic of Jasper, the magic is not lost and it never will be. Alberta’s government will provide the support needed to families and community to recover and rebuild stronger so that future generations can continue to experience this one of a kind community and feel the magic of being able to come home.”
She estimated the townsite had suffered “potentially 30 to 50 per cent structural damage.”
Smith also told reporters she and her ministers would be speaking with their federal counterparts Thursday, including a call with the prime minister in the afternoon and a meeting with the federal minister of emergency preparedness in person in Edmonton.
8:30 a.m. MT: Update from Jasper mayor
“It’s been a sleepless night, as I’m sure it has been for all of our evacuated residents,” Jasper’s mayor, Richard Ireland, told CTV Edmonton Morning Live.
He said support from people across Canada has helped him come to terms with the devastating news of at least some destruction.
“It is gratifying to know that people appreciate our community and are fully prepared to step up to help us rebuild,” Ireland said.
Speaking about the toll the COVID-19 pandemic took on Jasper, he added, “We’ve learned to come together and work our way through that and that hopefully has prepared us to come together once again … as we start to face the really daunting prospect of rebuilding an entire community, perhaps.”
7:10 a.m. MT: First government update
Officials are waiting to learn Thursday morning the extent of wildfire damage in the Jasper townsite of Jasper National Park, which flames began to eat away at the night before.
Firefighters that remained in Jasper overnight were working to save what buildings they could.
Alberta’s forestry and parks minister said the government has not received any more information overnight but was expecting an update from Parks Canada later in the day.
“Obviously, it’s a pretty dire situation over there, but still no extra information,” Todd Loewen said.
In its last update Wednesday evening, Parks Canada said “significant loss” had occurred in the townsite.
Pictures on social media showed flames engulfing Maligne Lodge and encroaching on other buildings in the Canadian Rockies town.
Management at Fairmont’s famous Jasper Park Lodge confirmed fire had reached that hotel’s grounds, too, but did not know Wednesday evening what kind of damage had been caused.
“Our hearts go out to them. I can’t imagine the trauma that it causes seeing something like that and those pictures,” Loewen said.
“We don’t know exactly what’s been lost, but hopefully it’s better than what we’re thinking right now anyways.”
The federal government has approved Alberta’s request for military help.
Municipalities around the province are also sending crews and resources to Jasper.