Wildfires in Canada have led to the evacuation of over 25,000 people from Jasper National Park in Alberta. The fires, fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions, have become too intense for emergency services to control, forcing both locals and visitors to leave.
The evacuation order was given late Monday night, telling everyone—residents, seasonal workers, and tourists—to leave immediately. Jasper, a town in the Rocky Mountains with about 5,000 permanent residents, 5,000 seasonal workers, and around 15,000 visitors, has been completely cleared out. The park, which covers more than 4,200 square miles (10,900 square kilometers), is now surrounded by heavy smoke and flames.
According to Alberta Wildfire, the blaze is out of control and burning about seven miles south of the town. The sudden evacuation caused confusion and traffic jams as people tried to get out quickly.
Jack Kearney, an American videographer, described his experience on social media, noting how difficult and slow the evacuation process was. He said, “Leaving town was very slow. It’s been smoky all day, and ash started showing up around 9 pm. We should have left sooner. We didn’t get clear instructions from staff at the lodge, and many of us were unsure what to do. Language barriers made things even harder.”
Officials are working to help evacuees by making sure they have enough fuel for their vehicles and directing them to nearby British Columbia for shelter. British Columbia’s emergency management minister, Bowinn Ma, said the province is organizing routes and finding places for the evacuees to stay.
The town of Valemount, located west of Jasper, is already overwhelmed by the number of people arriving. The Jasper municipality advised, “Valemount has limited services and cannot take in more people at the community hall. If you are on the road, drive carefully and take breaks as needed. The situation is evolving quickly, so please be patient and stay safe.”
Currently, there are 170 active fires in Alberta and 316 in British Columbia. Officials hope cooler weather will help control the fires in north-western Alberta, but dry conditions are expected to continue in both provinces.