I know a number of Bitoggers have visited Jasper National Park in Canada. A huge forest fire has been burning there and has entered the town of Jasper, destroying lodges, homes and infrastructure. The press is saying at least a third of the town may have been destroyed. Currently the entire town is evacuated.
Major forest fire in Jasper National Park in Canada
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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Thoughts and prayers out to the families and firefighters and also for the partial loss of a beautiful forest.
My wife and I were supposed to be going to Jasper in September, as part of a Glacier, Yellowstone, and Jasper trilogy. Our trip can be rearranged but what these poor people are going through and the loss of so much of the town and forest is heartbreaking.
How many acres?
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- May 28, 2014
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Doesn't matter, if things are burning,they are destroyed.
89,000 acres so far. 5,000 residents and 20,000 tourists had to leave.
First off, sorry for everyone that has lost property in the fire.
This was inevitable unfortunately, we drove through jasper a few weeks ago and I said to my wife “this whole f’n place is going to go up like a box of matches if there’s a fire”.
There surrounding forest was mostly dead tinder from pine Beatle damage, it was crazy how much was there. This combined with how the direct goes right through the town… it was a matter of time.
Again, to those that lost their homes, businesses, etc I’m sorry for the loss.
I’m about 4hrs north or Jasper, quite a few evacuees here.
This was inevitable unfortunately, we drove through jasper a few weeks ago and I said to my wife “this whole f’n place is going to go up like a box of matches if there’s a fire”.
There surrounding forest was mostly dead tinder from pine Beatle damage, it was crazy how much was there. This combined with how the direct goes right through the town… it was a matter of time.
Again, to those that lost their homes, businesses, etc I’m sorry for the loss.
I’m about 4hrs north or Jasper, quite a few evacuees here.
There are issues going on. Being a National Park, the Federal Government has a lot to say on things like logging. However, being inside the Province of Alberta, fire protection is the Province’s responsibility. It’s pretty obvious that the powers to-be grossly underestimated what a fire can do, especially in a forest containing beetle killed trees and having hot dry weather. There are already warnings put out about Banff National Park having similar characteristics, not so much about beetle kill, but not being serious about fire breaks.
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Things cooled off enough for inspections to be done. A total of 358 structures out of 1113 were destroyed, including the mayor’s home.
The forest fire might be natures way of eradicating beetles….i feel terrible for folks impacted however at same time its nature .
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