One of Canada’s most popular national parks is now closed to the public until further notice. Authorities are still struggling to contain a wildfire there that’s already claimed the life of one firefighter.
Parks Canada took the unprecedented step to completely evacuate and close Jasper National Park. The agency decided to close the entire national park to make it easier for fire response vehicles and teams to navigate and fight the flames, and to protect the public.
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in Alberta and among the largest in North America. The park covers more than 11,000 square kilometers (over 4,000 square miles).
On Monday, Parks Canada said the raging wildfire in Jasper was slightly smaller than at its peak but still covered about 34,000 hectares or more than 84,000 acres.
More favorable weather had responders feeling more optimistic about their fight against the fire.
“Yesterday’s cooler weather and light rain helped to minimize the spread of the fire and allowed fire crews to make good progress,” Parks Canada said.
However, the response is far from over. High winds and hot temperatures could spread the fire even further should officials fail to get it contained in time.
High temperatures brought by a persistent heat wave have helped spark hundreds of wildfires across North America. As of this writing, firefighters were still battling a massive wildfire in California and a fire in Colorado that’s threatening parts of Rocky Mountain National Park.
The fire at Jasper is among this season’s most devastating blazes. The flames burned down a significant portion of the community of Jasper, forcing the entire city to evacuate.
Jasper remains evacuated, but Parks Canada said it has allowed some residents back in by bus so they could assess fire damage.
The fire has also claimed at least one life.
Officials confirmed that one firefighter died while battling the flames.
“Our hearts go out to the loved ones and colleagues of the firefighter who lost his life while working on the incident at Jasper NP,” Parks Canada said in a post on the X social media platform. “We stand together, offering unwavering support and gratitude to all the courageous firefighters on the frontlines.”
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Park Info
Park:
Jasper National Park
Location:
Alberta, Canada
