Parks Canada CEO Ron Hallman said heavy winds and dry temperatures caused the inferno to grow quickly
OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says all fires in the community of Jasper, Alta., have been extinguished and that officials planning for a “staged re-entry” have no timelines yet.
Guilbeault made the comments in a briefing on Monday, a week after Parks Canada issued a preventative evacuation alert for Jasper National Park and the town, just days before a massive blaze engulfed 30 per cent of its structures.
Parks Canada President and CEO Ron Hallman says heavy winds and dry temperatures caused the inferno to grow quickly, adding that firefighters had to battle a fast-moving wall of flames that towered high above the trees.
Hallman defended the work Parks Canada had done to date to manage the park, saying he understands people have questions and that there will be a time and place to seek answers.
Guilbeault says planning for re-entry must be done carefully given officials warn that upcoming weather conditions create a heightened fire risk.
No injuries or fatalities were reported from the blaze, with officials saying 70 per cent of the town’s structures were saved.
More to come.
National Post
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