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p.1 #1 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
Wednesday a fire started south of Jasper and another North of Jasper. 5,000 residents and 20,000 tourists were evacuated to the east because South (icefields parkway) and East (to Hinton) were impeded by fires.
Last night the firefighters were largely pulled from Jasper (brave people risking their lives for houses) because of risk and the fire came into town, burning at least Maligne Lodge (east side of Jasper) and the gas station (worrisome because this is a block away). I also understand that the Jasper Park lodge was under fire (don't know the extent). The forecast was for some rain, but it's not clear what will survive. Information is spotty.
Our friends who lived there are now waiting to see if their homes exist. But they are safe.
Anyway, Jasper Park and Jasper Park Lodge is kind of my jewel Tourist town where I know all the proprietors and Jasper Park Lodge is where I go in the off season. Bears, golfing, biking, and the place to return to after 3 days of paddling or backpacking. And Alpine village is where Laurel and I go every May for bears and our anniversary - unknown. It has all been affected. The Jasper Park lodge has picture of the queen and mark Twain visiting The company I retired from had pump stations and facilties. The rail way has a station there. The elk basically live there to avoid wolves and cross every road at dusk. Just watching the instagrams last night I had to get my wife to turn it off to stop her crying. We took our 4 kids there every year and watched the town Canada day parade. We visited the art galleries over and over. Hopefully much of it survives.
On a trivial note, I had a 3 day backpack and a trip to paddle maligne lake this next week, so I went just looking for bears the other day. But the smoke from fires everywhere (very dry July) reminded me of the beauty of nature and the constant changing environment and that we are guests in the parks.
Fire is an integral part of our environment. We have suppressed fire for 100 years. Some of our lodgepole pine do not germinate unless there is fire. Trees are more decease prone if they don't burn and jasper was severely impacted by pine beetle because of old trees and no fire from human intervention (and climate change). There were thousands of acres of dead trees waiting to burn. When I visit Yellowstone I see wide open spaces caused by fire. Wide open spaces cause ungulates to flourish and then in turn wolves and bears flourish.
But fire has an enormous impact on people and jobs and squirrels and elk and deer and bears. And memories.
Anyway, long message to say - Jasper Town and Jasper National Park will be severely or significantly affected. The landscape will be greatly changed. I know that many of you go there and will share my grief. Just letting you know. Jasper will be a different place when you visit again. I will post more information as the impact is clear. If you scheduled to visit Jasper your plans may be affected. And its seems wrong to not aknowledge the loss while I pursue Landscape and Nature pictures.
p.1 #2 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
The good news is that I have seen videos of Jasper and the fire seems to have burned though leaving critical hospitals and utility infrastructure intact. The bad news is that the x posting video I have seen show burnt cars and burnt house and burnt gas stations and no standing houses. I am hoping that it's just one end of town but it looks devastating. I understand the bridge over athabasca to Maligne is damaged but JPL is somewhat intact.
p.1 #3 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
I am thankful that people are safe, hopefully no loss of life. Heartbreaking to see all the property damage, so many decades worth of hard work and dreams going up in smoke.
p.1 #6 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
Good news - from Jasper Park Lodge "We are able to confirm that though the hotel did incur fire damage, most of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge structures, including the main lodge, remain standing and intact. While we will need time to assess the full scale of the damage and the timelines required for repair and restoration, we are deeply relieved that much of the property was spared and the resort will re-open in the future."
Other good news is that my 80's year old friend's house survived the fire.
But the bad news/good news is that the Premier is saying 30-50% of structures are damaged or gone.
On X - "Incident Command is able to confirm that all critical infrastructure in Jasper was successfully protected including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant."
p.1 #7 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
Sad to hear the bad news. Hope everyone affected gets the aid they deserve to recover fully. Jasper is truly a wonderful town and tourist destination. Prayers for everyone affected.
p.1 #10 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
Wow, I'm so sorry to hear this. Prayers to all the people affected by the fires.
My wife and I stayed in Jasper about 8 yrs. ago -- what a beautiful town and area. I have many wonderful photos from Jasper National Park.
While we were in Jasper we went down to the train station area and walked around. I ate 'poutine' for the first time in my life in Jasper.
I know this is very hard for you, Scott.
p.1 #11 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
gmccroskery wrote:
Wow, I'm so sorry to hear this. Prayers to all the people affected by the fires.
My wife and I stayed in Jasper about 8 yrs. ago -- what a beautiful town and area. I have many wonderful photos from Jasper National Park.
While we were in Jasper we went down to the train station area and walked around. I ate 'poutine' for the first time in my life in Jasper.
I know this is very hard for you, Scott.
Greg
Thanks - it is emotionally hard but much much harder (financially, friends, possessions, what to do next, clean up) for the people who live in Jasper. Even though my father was born in Banff, and my grandfather was a parks employee (horse/ shovel guy) in the 30's, and my company was heavily involved in Jasper, I cannot buy property in Jasper - its limited to people who are employed in Jasper (or were and retired).
My favourite Italian restaurant is okay and the Athabasca Hotel, where my favourite server works. I worry about her with her son heading off to university this year. Erls is okay. Jasper Park lodge is okay but some of the out buildings may be affected and the bridge is at risk. One of my friends owns an art storage building near the railway, I am not sure how it fared.
It will be some time to fix the buildings. Insurance companies/ Insured are generally slow with discussions over what's covered and replacement cost vs actual costs. And the government usually waits to resolve before they step in. This is why even though there is insurance, the recovery could take >5 years. Renters (commercial and residential) will struggle. I am not sure what happened to Jasper Park lodge staff accommodation even though I understand the main lodge is intact.
The government has said 30-50% of buildings are damaged or lost. So far all of the people I know with houses/commercial buildings in Jasper have been okay. But that's hardly a relief to people I don't know. And one of the people I know is temporarily shut down for weddings service from the lodge. From what I understand there were building in heart of Jasper that burnt right beside others that did not - which will be awkward. . The critical infrastructure is still in place but there are several bridges that may be damaged including the bridge to Maligne Lake and Jasper Park Lodge. The bridge coming in on ice field parkway is under review for damage as well.
I still do not know how the remote Alpine Lodge, Beckers, ... did through the fire.
Fires cause all the employees to move on while it's all sorted out. Even though some have been with resorts for 20 years. This will be especially hard on them.
CBC did a good job with this video talking about the impact
p.1 #12 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
I’m so sorry to hear about the fires hitting Jasper. It’s such a beautiful place, and I know how much it means to you. I remember visiting Jasper a few years ago and falling in love with the area—golfing, bear-watching, and all those amazing views. It’s heartbreaking to think of it being affected like this.
I hope the forecasted rain helps and that the firefighters manage to contain the fires soon. I’ll be thinking of you and hoping for the best. I’ll dig up a few old pics from my trip to share and keep the memories alive.
p.1 #13 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
It's hard to see this. Closer to here in Colorado the Village of Ruidoso, New Mexico lost 1,400 structures, including over 500 homes in late June. To add to their losses was the monsoon flooding which pretty much finished what the fires couldn't.
Sorry that you seem to have lost so much Scott. I hope your friends and the town can recover.
p.1 #14 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
Just returned from a trip to Canmore/Banff.....we only got up to about 15 miles north of Lake Louise, but there was quite a bit of smoke haze, even in Canmore. We had a trip planned to Ruidoso as well (we go at least once a year), but it had fires in June and then floods.
p.1 #16 · Jasper Alberta Fire - Jasper National Park
I was very sorry to hear the news of the fires in this area - one of my favorites that I've visited many times over the years to climb, hike, and bike. Good luck to flora and fauna in their recovery. I look forward to seeing more of your excellent images documenting this.
