Officials with Jasper National Park have provided updates on the Jasper Complex Wildfire and re-entry progress for residents.
Staff with the Incident Command Centre will be moving forward with re-entry plans on Aug. 16., saying the minimum service levels required for re-entry have been met, allowing residents to return safely.
Re-entry is for residents only.
Residents are being asked to follow the re-entry steps as listed below.
1) Beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16., residents and business owners coming from east of Jasper must stop at the East Gate to receive their Resident Re-entry Guide and then proceed to the east entrance of town. Residents coming from west of Jasper should travel past the West Gate and go directly to the east entrance of town to receive a Resident Re-entry Guide.
Residents can show their Parks Canada-issued resident parking pass or self-declare.
The Re-entry Guides include a placard from ATCO Gas. Once you’ve arrived at your property, you must place the placard visibly in a window or somewhere easily visible from the street to receive a gas relighting service.
2) RCMP will be stationed at the east entrance ensuring everyone entering has a Resident Re-entry Guide. The only entrance to town will be the east entrance. To exit town, please drive out the west entrance.
3) Non-residents will be directed to drive through the park on Highway 16 without stopping. Check Alberta 511 for road updates.
RCMP say anyone attempting to enter the town without a Resident Re-entry Guide will be turned away and sent back to Highway 16.
Officials are warning residents that some of the things they will see may be traumatizing and that the smell of smoke in the townsite can be overwhelming at certain points. Residents are being advised to use N95 masks if and when possible. Residents are being encouraged to read about available mental health supports before they return.
Fire crews say the northwest perimeter of the fire is 99 per cent contained and they will continue to work towards 100 per cent containment. The rest of the Jasper Complex Wildfire remains classified as out of control and is now estimated to be 33,048 hectares.
Updates will continue to be posted to the Jasper National Park Facebook page, and the Municipality of Jasper website as they become available.
Comments