Jasper wildfire: 30% of town destroyed, say officials [Video]

• In Pictures: Jasper wildfire aftermath
• Complete coverage of the 2024 Alberta wildfire season

1 p.m. MT: 30% of town structures destroyed, say officials

Jasper National Park officials say about 30 per cent of the structures in the Town of Jasper were destroyed in this week’s wildfire.

In a Friday afternoon update, officials reported 358 of the 1,113 structures in the townsite have been destroyed, adding all critical infrastructure “was successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.”

Media are scheduled for a tour of the townsite today.

The fast-moving wildfire — when it reached the Jasper townsite Wednesday evening, officials reported it had moved 5 kilometres in 30 minutes — forced 25,000 people to flee the national park, which is one of six Alberta places designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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