Jasper damage map released as park’s largest wildfire in 100 years rages

Residents and businesses of the townsite inside Jasper National Park found out on Saturday for certain whether or not they have a property to return to.

The municipality of Jasper released a high-resolution map and list of properties showing the structures destroyed this past week (go to bottom of this story to see map and list), which includes single-family homes, apartments, townhouses, a hostel, church, senior’s manor, gas station and other businesses.

Parks Canada has estimated that 30 per cent of Jasper’s structures were damaged by the wildfire, with 358 of the town’s 1,113 structures destroyed.

Christine Nadon, the incident commander for the Municipality of Jasper, said it was an all-or-nothing situation — buildings were either razed to the ground or not affected at all.

“Most structures were destroyed and very few were damaged,” she said during an update Saturday afternoon alongside Parks Canada officials.

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“Many of you will have your worst fears confirmed today.”

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Raw video of wildfire damage in Jasper, Alta.

Nadon’s regular job sees her in charge of the fire department.

On Wednesday night as flames bore down on the mountain community, Nadon said she was inside the fire hall listening to scanners, monitoring maps and trying to keep track of her people as the fire consumed home after home — hers included.

“It’s heartbreaking is what it is. Some of those structures we will rebuild. But we’re looking at some historical buildings, people’s homes, personal belongings. I lost my home.”

The map released Saturday showed how nearly an entire block of homes could be levelled to the ground but leave a single house standing in the midst of the rubble.

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“I would say our entire community is affected, whether you have a home standing or not. Survivor’s guilt is a thing. Why is my house here and yours isn’t?”

Not pictured on the map are some of the resorts south of Jasper, along Highway 93, where the south fire came from.

Several of those businesses heard from Parks Canada this weekend on the fate of their properties and posted the grim news on their own social media pages.

Alpine Village said it lost half its 54 cabins, while Tekarra Lodge lost several buildings — their front office, the main building with the restaurant, and several cabins — but didn’t have hard numbers. Becker’s Chalets also lost five buildings.

Jasper Brewing Co. said while its building was spared, the one next door was destroyed so they don’t know what kind of smoke or water damage has occurred.

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While about a third of the town burned to the ground, Nadon said the human toll is still being calculated.

“The residential population that is affected is much greater than the number of structures damage tends to demonstrate — as in, an apartment building is one structure. A single house is one structure. So we have a handle on the number of structures that are destroyed.

“Most of them are destroyed, not damaged from our initial assessment — we’re looking at foundations.”

Critical infrastructure remained intact, including schools, the hospital, and water treatment services, but Premier Danielle Smith said on Saturday that staff needed to get inside the hospital to check for damage since there were reports its roof had been on fire.

1:54
Jasper too dangerous for reentry as wildfire blazes nearby

The town cautioned the information on the losses is still preliminary and is based on the damage that is visible from the street.

First responders have not had a chance to enter buildings to assess damage caused by heat, smoke or water.

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“I would say even those who still have homes are deeply affected and grieving our community, but also banding together, residents getting together, helping each other, supporting each other,” Nadon said, explaining she’s already been offered a suite to live in.

“There is a community to go back to and we will support each other, get through this and return to our town when it is safe to do so.”

When that reentry will happen is not yet known.

Premier Danielle Smith said on her radio show Saturday she wants busses to take residents in to see the damage for themselves and the town said a plan is in the works, but details are still being firmed up.

“Access for residents in a structured way where we would likely use buses to get them in and at specific times and in specific areas, and for residents to go have a look at their house or where they lived,” Nadon said.

“That is a plan we’re working on, and we will have available as soon as we can.”

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Mayor of Jasper loses home in devastating mountain park wildfire: ‘I see memories of life taken’

Just like was the case with Fort McMurray in 2016, where residents were not able to return for nearly a month because of the toxic environment left behind, work still needs to be done to make the town safe again.

“At this time, it is not possible for residents to return to Jasper to view their property or collect their belongings. The town site is not safe. We are still very early in our recovery process. The chemicals released by structural fire are a serious risk to health,” Nadon said, adding firefighters are still attacking the wildfire itself, still burning on the perimeter of town.

“Firefighters and first responders need space to do their job safely.

“This remains an evolving emergency situation.”

Because the town is part of Jasper National Park, rebuilding plans are taking shape with help from the federal government, Smith said.

Those who are working to clean up and protect the community are all staying in Hinton, some 50 kilometres east of Jasper.

Fire could take 3 months or more to put out

Parks Canada said the wildfire — revised to 32,000 hectares — is officially the largest to break out in Jasper National Park in 100 years. It will not be extinguished anytime soon.

While cooler, wet weather this weekend helped suppress some fire activity, and about 12 millimetres of rain fell in Jasper, it isn’t enough.

“We’re going to be working on this wildfire, we expect, over the next three months at least,” said Landon Shepherd, the deputy incident commander for Parks Canada.