‘Confront their grief’: Jasper townsite reopens Friday, but only to residents for now

Residents of Jasper, Alta., will be the only ones allowed in when the wildfire-hit town reopens Friday, Parks Canada and municipal officials said Wednesday.

Re-entry is to be limited to the town’s east entrance, which is to be patrolled by RCMP officers tasked with turning away non-residents. Jasperites will have to show proof of residence before receiving a re-entry guide and entering the town.

Mayor Richard Ireland told a virtual news conference that residents have been concerned about visitors intruding on their privacy as they learn first-hand the state of their homes and businesses in the popular Rocky Mountain tourist spot.

He said Friday is expected to be a day of raw emotion and asks non-residents, including media, to be respectful.

“Photographs and images on television cannot convey the sense of loss that will be felt,” said Ireland.

“Residents will need time and the space to confront their grief privately.”

Roughly 5,000 residents, along with 20,000 more visitors, were forced out of the area on July 22, just days before a wind-whipped fire roared in and destroyed a third of town buildings.

Early figures from the town indicate the fires destroyed $283 million worth of property, which works out to a $2.2-million loss in annual property tax revenue for the town. Key infrastructure was spared from the flames but still needs work.

Jonathan Large, an incident commander with Parks Canada, said there is not yet word on when non-residents will be allowed to visit.

The out-of-control fire continues to affect large areas of the park, he said.

“Until we can make the recommendation that the fire is no longer a threat to other areas of the park, we’re not able to provide timelines for safe re-entry into those areas,” Large said.

When asked why officials were confident the area is safe enough for residents despite the out-of-control blaze, Large said the fire does not pose a risk to the town anymore.

“A tremendous amount of work has been done in and around town,” he said, citing fire breaks as one example.

“There will be a lot of work to maintain those fuel treatment areas.”

He also said Jasper’s current state may be unfamiliar to residents. Re-entry will be intense and could be triggering to some, he said.

Large also warned about the possibility of smoke.

“Depending on the wind direction, the smell of smoke may be overwhelming to some,” he said. “Be prepared with N95 masks.”

Highway 16, the main east-west highway through the park and to the town, remains open except overnight from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Residents of Jasper will be allowed to drive on the road after it closes but won’t be allowed back into town until morning.

Some homes might have utilities already connected, while others might not. Wildlife continues to run rampant through the town, Large said.

Jasper residents can now fill out a form on the town’s website to have their fridges, freezers and other appliances or “white goods” disposed of.

The town’s online re-entry guide also says residents shouldn’t eat any fruits or vegetables they were growing leading up to the fire.

“They are likely smoke affected,” the guide reads, adding that the produce could also be affected by fire retardants used by firefighters.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug 14, 2024.

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press