Jasper Evacuations Complete as Crews Battle Wildfire Just 12 Kilometres From Town

Roughly 25,000 residents and visitors have fled Jasper, Alta., completing the evacuation of the town located in the heart of Jasper National Park as a wildfire rages only 12 kilometres south of the community. While the evacuation of the town is complete, the evacuation of hikers in the backcountry continues, Parks Canada staff said in a late afternoon post July 23. Fire crews continue to battle two wildfires—one south of Jasper, and one 12 kilometres north of the townsite, located between the Jasper Transfer Station and the Jasper Air Strip on both sides of Highway 16, the post said. The wildfire closest to the town has burnt 270 hectares (667 acres) thus far while the southern wildfire near Kerkeslin campground has burned an estimated 6,750 hectares (16,679 acres)....