Jasper residents may soon be able to start returning to the town, but for some, there will be no homes to return to.
About 30 per cent of the town’s structures were destroyed in a massive wildfire that began last week.
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Monday that all fires in the town are now out.
“Crews are now bringing power back on and looking to prepare the community for a staged re-entry, although there are no firm timelines for when that’ll occur,” said Guilbeault.
Guilbeault said crews are also working to extend the buffer zone around the community to around three kilometres.
“Beyond that, there are still active wildfires that threaten the community,” he said, adding crews are working to stabilize the fire situation throughout Jasper National Park.
Despite the damage caused by the largest fire in the park’s history, officials said no injuries have been reported.
Meanwhile, the president of Parks Canada says they did everything possible to reduce fire risk at Jasper National Park.
Ron Hallman said they regularly performed prescribed fires and mechanical removal of trees and hazardous underbrush.
“I have sincerely no doubt that those efforts over many years … have significantly mitigated what may otherwise have been an even more devastating fire,” Hallman told reporters.
The governments of Canada and Alberta are matching donations made to the Canadian Red Cross for wildfire relief.
