‘Progress being made’ on Chetamon wildfire burning in Jasper

Parks Canada says there is “progress being made” on the perimeter of the Chetamon wildfire burning in Jasper National Park.

In an update on Monday, officials say the estimated size of the fire is around 5,800 hectares and maintain that no communities in the area are in danger.

“Despite moderate to strong winds on Sunday, firefighting ground crews and helicopter bucketing held the Chetamon wildfire to previously established control lines on both the north and south ends. Parks Canada is also working with ATCO to facilitate safe and rapid access, material staging, and danger tree removal for power line repairs,” a statement from Parks Canada reads.

More than 125 firefighters and nine helicopters are on the frontlines battling the fire, including crews from British Columbia.

Crews are setting hose lines where they can to extinguish “active areas along priority perimeter locations” of the wildfire.

A map of the Chetamon wildfire burning in Jasper National Park, Monday Sept. 12, 2022. (Parks Canada)

Conditions in Jasper as well as other parts of Alberta such as Calgary, have been smoky.

Smoke from the Chetamon wildfire as well as other fires in B.C. and the United States is drifting in, causing poor air quality.

Meanwhile, Parks Canada officials are reminding potential visitors that now is not the time to come to Jasper National Park.

The town of Jasper continues to face intermittent power outages. About half of the town has been without power since early morning Monday, Sept. 5.

The Municipality of Jasper is asking residents to conserve power, adding “Whistlers and Wapiti campgrounds are temporarily closed until September 25, 2022 (inclusive).”

Anyone who had a reservation to stay at those campgrounds during that time will get a refund automatically.