Montreal: An “out of control” forest fire has engulfed up to half of the capital in western Canada’s popular Jasper National Park, authorities said Thursday, with 400 foreign firefighters called in to help with the blaze.
The fire has so far claimed no lives, and up to 25,000 residents and tourists were evacuated from the area before the blaze suddenly grew in size and overtook firefighters.
“There’s no denying that this is any community’s worst nightmare,” said Danielle Smith, Alberta’s premier, adding that damage to the city was estimated at “30 to 50 percent.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the images of the damage “heartbreaking” and said his government had asked more than 400 firefighters from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa to help local authorities.
“Thank you for your courage and for working around the clock to fight these wildfires,” he said in a post on the X social media platform.
Video circulating on social media showed the streets of Jasper covered in ash, cars reduced to charred carcasses and buildings in ruins.
Mayor Richard Ireland wrote in an online post of a sense of devastation and loss that was “beyond description and comprehension”.
Firefighters in the town were still working hard Thursday, with Jasper National Park officials saying the expected rain had “no significant impact” on the fire.
“Jasper National Park received a small amount of rain overnight. While the rain has helped reduce fire activity slightly, it is not enough to significantly affect the overall wildfire situation, which remains out of control,” a post on the park’s website said. X account.
The flames reached a height of 120 meters (390 ft) in places and were moving at a speed of 15 meters per minute.
The fire hit the deserted town on Wednesday night after moving very quickly late in the day, pushed by strong winds in a drought-stricken region that has seen record-breaking heat in recent days.
Jasper National Park, the largest in Canada, is known for its mountains, glaciers, lakes and waterfalls and attracts 2.5 million visitors each year.
“Everybody has a sense of total devastation,” said Pattie Pavlov, a Jasper resident who drove hours Monday night to escape the advancing fire.
“A lot of people feel very helpless. Because we can’t do anything.”
The executive director of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce said she took refuge with friends more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from her home.
Alberta Premier Smith tearfully gave an estimate of the damage and recalled that “for many generations” the town and Jasper National Park have been “a source of pride.”
In recent days, lightning has started numerous fires in western Canada.
More than 170 fires were active in Alberta on Thursday, including more than a dozen in the Fort McMurray region, which is the center of oil sands development.
British Columbia, a province bordering Alberta, was dealing with 400 active fires, more than half of which were out of control. In the past 24 hours alone, 56 fires have started, authorities said.
