The Jasper Wildfire Complex has been classified as ‘being held’, meaning it is not expected to spread in any priority areas as Jasper residents begin their return.
In a 4:30pm update on August 18, the Municipality of Jasper reported: “Re-entry began on Friday, August 16. So far, more than 800 people have visited the Re-Entry Support Centre. One hundred and eighty (180) people have visited the insurance tent where more than 12 companies are there to speak with residents directly.
“Starting Monday, August 19, [the Re-Entry Support Centre at Commemoration Park] will be open from 9am to 6pm and will remain open until Friday, August 23. We continue to assess the demand and will extend services if needed.”
The evacuation alert was lifted from the townsite following the change of the wildfire status to ‘being held’ on Saturday.
Jasper National Park said on August 17: “All of us here with the Unified Command team have mixed emotions as we make this [wildfire status] announcement today. We thank all of the responders involved in helping us achieve this milestone, while also recognizing the loss of Morgan Kitchen, the young firefighter from Calgary who lost his life on August 3, while working to bring this blaze under control.”
In an evening update on the same day, it was highlighted that the ignition at the airstrip had been fully extinguished.
Meanwhile, staff at Unified Command created a fire progression map (seen above, courtesy of Jasper National Park) to demonstrate the wildfire’s growth.
One of the weekend updates noted: “We want to reiterate that the unimaginable pace and growth was set early on – and it is a true testament to the commitment of the unified command team that evacuations of visitors, staff, and residents in town, and especially along the Icefields Parkway where the wildfire charged at the heels of first responders, were completed safely.”
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