According to officials with Alberta Wildfire, the fires that forced Jasper National Park residents to evacuate on Monday have reached the Jasper townsite.
Officials say the fires reached the townsite at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, and have caused significant structure damage around town. Crews say structure firefighters equipped with self-contained breathing apparatus remain in town to try and save as many buildings as they can, but all firefighters and first responders without self-contained breathing apparatus have been evacuated to Hinton due to a sharp decline in air quality.
Officials say they are unable to provide details on the extent of the damage in the townsite at this time.
READ MORE: Evacuation order issued for Town of Jasper and Jasper National Park.
Todd Loewen, the Alberta Forestry Minister, says he has requested additional firefighting resources, aerial support to move wildfire crews and equipment and assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he quickly approved.
Officials say updates will be posted to the Jasper National Park Facebook page, the Town of Jasper Facebook page, the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) Facebook page, the Municipality of Jasper website and the Emergency Alert section of the Government of Alberta website as they become available.
