Wildfire in Canada’s Jasper national park force mass evacuation

On Monday night, officials ordered a complete evacuation of the town of Jasper, home to about 4,700 people.

Shortly after, the entire national park – a vast area of over 4,200 square miles – was also evacuated.

Photos and videos shared on social media from Monday night into Tuesday show a steady stream of vehicles, with headlights and tail lights glowing through thick smoke and ash as they navigate the hazardous conditions.

Jasper National Park, located in Alberta approximately 370 km (192 miles) west of Edmonton, is renowned for its campgrounds and extensive trails. It has been particularly busy with tourists during this peak season.

Alberta has been experiencing extreme temperatures recently, leading to the evacuation of an additional 7,500 people from other remote communities.

The Municipality of Jasper and Jasper National Park updated their emergency alert on Tuesday morning, stating that evacuation efforts are “progressing well” and advising residents to follow directives.

The majority of traffic is being directed west on Highway 16, while small groups of vehicles are being escorted east only when conditions allow.

“British Columbia will do everything we can to provide safe refuge for evacuees from Jasper, and are working as quickly as possible to co-ordinate routes and arrange host communities on our side of the border,” Bowinn Ma, the province’s minister for emergency management, wrote in a social media post.

Park and town officials are working to alleviate traffic congestion, secure fuel, and assist vulnerable individuals while mobilising resources to combat the fires.

An emergency alert issued by the Alberta government late Monday night instructed everyone in Jasper to evacuate immediately.

Parks Canada, responsible for managing the country’s national parks, reported that evacuations have been conducted at various campgrounds, the Athabasca Hostel, and the Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre.

Wildfires have cut off access to highways leading east to Edmonton and south to the Icefields Parkway, leaving only the route west to British Columbia.

Officials are working to accommodate evacuees, with Valemount opening its community hall for temporary shelter and offering essential supplies.

By 4:30am, Valemount, a town of 1,000 people located west of Jasper, had been overwhelmed by evacuees.

“Valemount has limited services and cannot accommodate additional evacuees at the community hall,” the Municipality of Jasper stated.

“If you are on the road, please drive carefully and take breaks as needed. This is an evolving emergency situation. Please remain patient and stay safe.”

The rapidly spreading fires, exacerbated by a searing heatwave covering much of British Columbia and Alberta, present a new challenge for firefighting crews.

While wildfires are typically allowed to burn freely in the remote areas of the boreal forest, their proximity to villages and towns will likely compel crews to actively combat the flames.

Officials are hopeful that cooler temperatures will assist fire crews in north-western Alberta, but dry conditions are expected to continue in the south and across British Columbia.

Last year Canada endured its worst-ever fire season, with more than 6,600 blazes burning 15 million hectares, an area roughly seven times the annual average.