Canada: Wildfire Tears Through National Park Near Rockies

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Facts

  • 30-50% of all structures in the Canadian town of Jasper, Alberta, are believed to have been destroyed by a wildfire that is estimated to be 36K hectares (89K acres) in size. The flames reached the town on Wednesday, and it could take weeks to tame the fire, officials say.[1]
  • The fires have forced evacuations of nearly 25K who live in Jasper, which resides in UNESCO-designated Jasper National Park. Evacuees headed westward to the province of British Columbia were told to turn around as wildfires in that province continue to rage.[2]
  • Cool weather and rain offered relief on Thursday, but the fire is expected to remain out of control as warmer conditions return this weekend. Firefighting activity is 'significantly subdued' due to the dangerous conditions.[3]
  • Emergency aid from the federal government is said to be forthcoming as nearly 1.9K firefighters battle the blaze in Alberta. Hundreds more firefighters from Mexico, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are expected to arrive in the coming days.[4]
  • A statement from the park says that firefighters were able to save all critical infrastructure, such as the town's hospital and wastewater treatment plant.[1]
  • As of Friday, there were 170 active wildfires in Alberta, with 550K hectares of land torched since the start of wildfire season. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Jasper could remain evacuated for weeks.[4]

Sources: [1]CBC, [2]Toronto Star, [3]BBC News and [4]Global News.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. Ever since Canada's record-breaking wildfire season last summer, Premier Smith has refused to link the events to climate change, as she leads an incredibly oil-rich province. The destruction that climate change can bring is undeniable, and Alberta can no longer be complacent in the face of such drastic consequences of our polluting ways. These fires can't be allowed to become a regular occurrence.
  • Right narrative, as provided by Edmontonjournal. While cynical activists will surely take advantage of these fires, the truth is much more complicated. Wildfires are a naturally occurring and healthy part of a prairie ecosystem, but Parks Canada has adopted a dangerous policy of total forest preservation that puts more lives at risk, as it eschews holistic practices like controlled burns. Ironically, 'green' policies are responsible for this mess.

Predictions