Wildfire activity to increase in southern Alberta, but repeat of Jasper unlikely
Posted Jul 30, 2024 3:19 pm.
Last Updated Jul 30, 2024 4:23 pm.
Wildfire activity in Alberta may increase in the coming days, especially in the south, but conditions are not expected to resemble those in Jasper last week.
Alberta Wildfire is anticipating warmer temperatures and drying out in the southern parts of the province due to lack of rain, leading to “high” or even “extreme” wildfire danger.
Information unit manager Christie Tucker says forecasters are cautious and “watching those conditions.” But the situation is not the same as it was in Jasper National Park.
“We’re not expecting the hot, hot temperatures that we’ve seen, and certainly the wind was a major story on what happened last week, particularly in the Jasper area, so we’re not anticipating winds like we’ve seen there,” Tucker explained.
“We are anticipating warmer temperatures, but certainly not like the conditions that we’ve seen. So we are preparing. But we are not anticipating a repeat of what we saw last week.”
Tucker says recent rain and cooler conditions in the north – with more on the way – have been a “relief” for firefighters battling blazes.
“But that is not going to instantly turn an out-of-control wildfire into extinguished,” she warns.
She says it’s crucial for firefighters to work hard on the ground during periods where environmental conditions help decrease wildfire activity. That means building fire guards, widening containment lines, and working through the night.
“The teams out there are working strategically with the environment, trying to make as much progress as they possibly can while conditions are lower, and we’re seeing lower activity,” Tucker said, adding more rain would help.
“That’s the work that’s really going to help us in the long term when it comes to bringing those wildfires under control.”
Firefighting help from overseas
There has not been a “significant amount of spread” on some of the larger fires in Alberta, Tucker says. There are currently 117 active wildfires in the province, of which 23 out of control. An estimated 17,105 people remain evacuated from their homes.
Firefighting help has come from abroad, with Alberta Wildfire confirming some 100 firefighters from Mexico and 200 from South Africa have arrived in the province.
Tucker could not provide details on where those crews would be stationed or how they would assist, but suggested they could help in Jasper National Park if needed.
“Supporting Jasper is one of our top priorities here in the province, and Parks Canada knows that we’re here to help and and that we are always happy to offer what we can,” Tucker said. “So the firefighting resources, I can’t say specifically where they will be at this time, but they are going to be throughout the province and they are going to be working on some of those larger wildfires and doing the work that we need to extinguish them.”
No timeline for Jasper re-entry
In the town of Jasper, municipal officials and Parks Canada are continuing to complete damage assessments, according to Joe Zatylny of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. There was no damage to critical infrastructure.
The evacuation order remains in place for Jasper, with no definite timelines on re-entry.
“We continue to work with the local authorities to bring more clarity around that,” Zatylny said. “Re-entry will only be possible once the wildfire situation in the park becomes more safe, and so the local incident command team, they’re actively working on a re-entry plan with all agencies.
“The team has to ensure that all the community lifelines are up and running. So everything from roads and bridges, that the air is safe to breathe, that there’s water, electricity, food supplies, pharmaceuticals and all the essential services.
“So we’re working closely with the local authority to develop those re-entry plans and supporting that this can be done as quickly as possible, but also safely.”
Starting Wednesday, the Canadian Red Cross will offer $750 per evacuated household in Jasper that’s registered with the organization. Jasperites can register here.
The funds are coming from donations made to the Canadian Red Cross 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal.
