Bus tours for evacuees from Jasper, Alta., to allow those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a wildfire to see the damage first-hand will begin on Sunday. The remains of hotels in Jasper, Alta., on Friday July 26, 2024.AMBER BRACKEN/The Canadian Press
Some Jasper residents might be able to visit the town on a bus tour Sunday, provided fire conditions are safe enough, said officials in a news conference Saturday afternoon.
The bus tours are set to leave from Edmonton and Hinton, said Joe Zatylny, deputy managing director, Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Priority will go to those whose homes were lost or damaged in the wildfire.
Plans are contingent on the conditions of the wildfire and at the direction of the incident command team in Jasper.
“We know returning to the community for the first time can be very difficult for residents,” said Mr. Zatylny, who added that mental health supports will be available.
No one will be allowed to exit the bus while on the tour because of the active and growing wildfire within the park. Hazards within the town, such as downed power lines, unstable buildings and debris, also pose a safety risk, said James Eastham, Information Officer for the Jasper Wildfire Complex Unified Command.
After registering online for the tour, evacuees will be contacted for more information. Site visits will continue until residents are able to move back, said Mr. Zatylny. No date has been set for the return.
“This will be case-by-case, resident-by-resident choice,” said Mr. Zatylny. “So if the residents say, ‘Tomorrow doesn’t work,’ we will continue with tours as long as they’re needed.”
Thousands fled the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park July 22 because of the fire, which eventually destroyed 30 per cent of the town’s structures, most of which were residential buildings.
The wildfire is still categorized as out of control. It is currently estimated to be 33,922 hectares, according to Mr. Eastham. On Friday, Alberta Wildfire, on the province’s website, reported that hot dry weather was leading to expected growth on the southern perimeters. Crews are working on extinguishing hot spots around the community and near the water-treatment plant. Parks Canada said fires in Jasper National Park could burn for months.
Residents of Little Red River Cree Nation, about 750 kilometres north of Edmonton, will be able to return home Monday. Grocery stores and fuel supplies are being stocked in anticipation for their arrival, said Mr. Zatylny. Residents of Fox Lake and John D’Or Prairie – communities that are part of Little Red River Cree Nation – were evacuated July 20. The third of the First Nation’s communities, Garden River, was evacuated 10 days before.
In total, as of Saturday afternoon, there are 119 active wildfires in Alberta with 20 categorized as out of control.
With reports from The Canadian Press