Jasper resident bus tours to view wildfire damage postponed 24 hours after firefighter death, risky fire conditions
Posted Aug 3, 2024 11:11 pm.
Last Updated Aug 4, 2024 3:54 pm.
The start of bus tour viewings for Jasper residents, especially those whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a wildfire, has been delayed following the death of a Calgary firefighter.
Minister of Emergency Services Mike Ellis announced the postponement on X, while expressing sorrow over the loss of the 24-year-old firefighter who died battling the Jasper wildfire complex Saturday.
“Out of respect for the family, crew and all those impacted by this tragedy, the bus tours that were to take place today for Jasper residents are being postponed by 24 hours,” his post reads.
“The residents that had signed up for the tours were notified last night, and we will continue to communicate with them directly to keep them informed. We are working to ensure supports are available for all those working in Jasper during this incredibly difficult time.”
Joe Zatylny with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency said the tour of Jasper would likely have been cancelled anyway at some point Sunday given the fire conditions in the national park.
“What we heard is that the fire conditions today, that would have been a factor,” Zatylny told reporters. “We did, we had already cancelled them. So that information, it was already in play on our end that we were cancelling those tours.
“I’m hearing that they would have been cancelled anyways.”
Monday’s tours are also dependent on getting the green light from the Jasper unified command, Zatylny explains.
“So first thing in the morning, we connect in with the command post, and they will let us know whether conditions are acceptable and the resourcing is in place,” he said. “This is still an active fire, so resource needs, deployment, travel on the highway, everything is being coordinated. And so that situation can change, it can change with weather and all sorts of dynamics in play. And so we connect in with command. If they say it’s safe to proceed, then we will continue to proceed. But it’s all under under that guidance.”
The first tours are expected to depart from Edmonton as well as Edson, Alberta.
Several buses are scheduled to go out each day, if conditions allow for it. Some 120 Jasper families have registered for a tour as of Sunday afternoon.
Zatylny broke down how the day would unfold for residents taking part in the tour.
“When a bus leaves Edmonton, there will be a briefing,” he explained. “They will stop at a location in Hinton, where they can receive refreshments and food and support as well. We’re connecting them with somebody from Jasper itself to help guide as they go through the town. And then as they return, there will be another stop and debrief.”
Zatylny notes the wildfire situation in Jasper National Park continues to fluctuate, and no one will be allowed to leave the buses inside the park due to safety concerns.
He says mental health, as well as support referral services, will be available during the tour to help people prepare for viewing the disaster site.
The province is working with Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper to provide the opportunity to those who call Jasper home.
All Jasper residents are eligible to register, however, priority will be given to those who have had property lost or damaged. Once registered, residents will be provided further details regarding the tour.
“What happens is they’re being individually contacted after they register on the site,” Zatylny said. “And so it is Jasper resident specific what day they’d like to go. So if they’re ready for tomorrow, so for example, we will stop, start putting them into seats on the bus. They’ll get the time, the itinerary of that will be included.”
An evacuation order for Jasper and Jasper National Park issued July 22 remains in effect, after the fire destroyed one-third of the historic town’s buildings.
Dean MacDonald, deputy incident commander with Parks Canada, said Saturday firefighters are doing everything they can to keep the fire from re-entering the town, even as rising temperatures this weekend are expected to boost fire activity.
He said the wildfire was estimated to be around 32,000 hectares.
Tour registration can be done on the province’s website.
