Jasper damage map released as largest wildfire in 100 years rages

Residents and businesses in the town in Jasper National Park were told Saturday whether they still have a home to return to.

The City of Jasper has released a high-resolution map and property list showing the structures destroyed over the past week (go to the end of this story to see the map and list), including single-family homes, apartments, townhouses, a hostel, a church, a retirement home, a gas station and other businesses.

Parks Canada estimates that 30 percent of Jasper’s structures were damaged by the wildfire, with 358 of the city’s 1,113 structures destroyed.

Christine Nadon, incident commander for the City of Jasper, said it was an all-or-nothing situation: buildings were either flattened or left completely empty.

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

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

In her normal job, Nadon is responsible for the fire brigade.

On Wednesday night, as flames ravaged the mountain community, Nadon said she sat in the fire station listening to scanners, checking maps and trying to keep tabs on her crew as the fire destroyed house after house, including hers.

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

The map released Saturday showed that nearly an entire city block could be flattened, leaving only one house standing amid the rubble.

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

Not shown on the map are some resorts south of Jasper, along Highway 93, where the fire originated to the south.

Several of these businesses learned about the fate of their properties from Parks Canada this weekend and posted the dire news on their own social media pages.

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

Jasper Brewing Co. said their own building was spared, but the building next door was destroyed, so they don’t know what kind of smoke or water damage occurred.

While about a third of the city burned down, Nadon says the human toll is still being calculated.

“The residential population that is affected is much larger than the number of damaged structures would indicate — like 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 and not damaged, according to our initial assessment. We are looking at the foundations.”

Key infrastructure remained intact, including schools, the hospital and water treatment plants. However, Prime Minister Danielle Smith said on Saturday that staff had to enter the hospital to check for damage after reports of the roof on fire.

The city warned that information on losses is preliminary and based on damage visible from the street.

Emergency workers have not yet had a chance to enter buildings to assess damage caused by heat, smoke or water.

“I would say that even those who still have a home are deeply affected and mourning for our community, but also that residents are coming together, helping and supporting each other,” said Nadon, who explained that she has already been offered an apartment to live in.

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

It is not yet known when that return will take place.

Premier Danielle Smith said on her radio show Saturday that she wants residents bused into the city so they can see the damage for themselves. The city said a plan is being worked on, but details are still being worked out.

“Access for residents in a structured way, where we would probably use buses to take them at specific times and to specific areas, and for residents to have a look around their home or where they lived,” Nadon said.

“That is a plan we are working on and will have available as soon as possible.”

Just as was the case with Fort McMurray in 2016, where residents were unable to return for nearly a month due to the toxic environment left behind, work still needs to be done to make the city safe again.

“At this time, it is not possible for residents to return to Jasper to view their properties or retrieve their belongings. The town’s location is not safe. We are still in the very early stages of our recovery process. The chemicals released during a structural fire pose a serious health risk,” Nadon said, adding that firefighters are still battling the wildfire itself, which is still burning on the edge of town.

“Firefighters and emergency services need space to do their work safely.

“This is still an evolving emergency.”

Because the town is part of Jasper National Park, plans are being made for reconstruction with help from the federal government, Smith said.

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

It can take 3 months or longer to extinguish a fire

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

While cooler, wet weather this weekend has somewhat limited fire activity and Jasper received about 12 millimeters of rain, it’s not enough.

“We expect to be working on this wildfire for the next three months,” said Landon Shepherd, deputy incident commander for Parks Canada.

“What the last five years have taught us is that the fire season in Jasper typically lasts well into the fall.”

Marmot Basin spared from fire’s wrath

In Alberta, it is a common thinking that if Banff – with its Main Street lined with sprawling souvenir shops, alongside fast food restaurants and major chains like Lululemon and Starbucks – is the most famous global tourist destination in the Rocky Mountains, then Jasper – with its smaller size, four times the distance to an international airport and a wealth of locally owned, independent shops and restaurants – is considered the hidden gem that locals visit most often.

Alberta residents, especially those in Edmonton and northern Alberta, are fiercely protective of Jasper.

Although the town has fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, it is a second home for many residents of the province.

They got engaged and married in the scenic mountains, camping with their family in the summer and skiing at Marmot Basin in the winter.

The ski area reported Saturday that it appears to have been spared the fire.

Brian Rode, vice president of Marmot Basin, said trees were blocking the road to the mountain, so their insurance specialists, who are trained in wildland fires, were flown in by helicopter.

“They were able to get some footage of the mountain from the helicopter and I can tell you the fire had no effect on Marmot Basin at all. So our infrastructure appears to be 100 percent intact,” Rode said.

“We know that so many people truly value and cherish Jasper National Park, Jasper townsite and of course the Marmot Basin ski area, so we are very pleased and relieved that the ski area has not yet been affected by the fire, which everyone knows is still not under control.”

If Parks Canada allows it, the plan is to keep Marmot Basin open for the 20204-25 ski season. In the meantime, Rode said, staff will be taken care of.

More than 20,000 people in and around the Rocky Mountain town four hours west of Edmonton were ordered to evacuate late Monday night as wildfires spread south and east of the town.

Forced to flee suddenly westward to British Columbia, Jasper residents and seasonal workers are now scattered across two provinces, from Grande Prairie to Valemount, Hinton to Prince George, Edmonton to Calgary and everywhere in between. Canadians have come to the rescue, opening their doors to evacuees.

“It really feels like a country is behind us, and that means a lot. And it’s going to help us get through this and come out the other side,” Shepherd said.

Nadon said people are uniting to support each other during what will not be a quick recovery: “This is a long fight. We are not through this yet.”

This week, Global News asked viewers to send in memories and photos of Jasper. Our inboxes were flooded with thousands of messages.

It is a testament to the place Jasper holds in the hearts of many, Rode said.

“We have so many loyal people, not just from the Edmonton area, but from all over Alberta and the rest of Canada.”

PHOTO: High-resolution map of damage from the Jasper wildfire.Please be patient if loading is delayed.)