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| Water hoses are being used to help protect structures in Jasper National Park |
Wildfires have ravaged the Canadian tourist town of Jasper, forcing the evacuation of 25,000 residents earlier this week. The fire has swept through Jasper National Park, resulting in significant damage to the local community, according to park officials on X (formerly Twitter).
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The western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia have been battling hundreds of wildfires, ignited by over 58,000 lightning strikes following a three-week heatwave, as reported by BC Wildfire Service. In response, about 1,900 firefighters from Alberta, along with teams from Alaska and Australia, are working to protect key infrastructure, including the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which remains operational thanks to protective sprinklers.
British Columbia has recorded over 400 fires, with 176 additional fires in Alberta. Environment Canada has forecasted some relief from the extreme heat, predicting 1 to 2 centimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) of rain on Thursday.
The fire's intensity has been so severe that it is reportedly generating its own weather system, complete with thunder and lightning. Jasper's mayor, Richard Ireland, described the situation as the town's "worst nightmare" and expressed deep sorrow over the devastation in a Facebook post.
The fire reached Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on Wednesday night. Although all guests were safely evacuated, the extent of the damage is still unknown. Resort spokesperson Anastasia Martin-Stilwell expressed devastation over the situation and praised the efforts of first responders.
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Residents like Eleonor Dumlao shared their panic over the evacuation order, recounting their hasty departure to an evacuation center in Edmonton. Others, such as Daniel Turner, faced heavy traffic during their evacuation, while Jim Campbell and Shawn Cornett were among the last to leave their campsite, packing up with a group of 20 others.
Jasper National Park reported deteriorating air quality due to the fires. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith urged residents to evacuate safely and stated she was in constant contact with authorities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced federal assistance, including Canadian Forces resources and emergency wildfire support.
In the U.S., several states, including California and Utah, have also been affected by wildfires. Over 30 million people across the U.S. are under heat warnings, as reported by the National Weather Service, with alerts in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington state.
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