Jasper Wildfire Reaches Townsite as First Responders Ordered to Leave

One of two raging, wind-whipped wildfires bearing down on the historic Jasper townsite reached its southern outskirts early Wednesday night as a last-ditch attempt to reroute it failed. Around the same time, all first responders were ordered out of Jasper National Park for their safety and to give fire crews more room to operate. Firefighters remained in the town to douse spot fires and maintain sprinkler lines. Everyone else was reminded to get out. “If you have not yet evacuated town you must leave now,” Katie Ellsworth, with Parks Canada, said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Our hearts go out to all of the affected community members, their families and their friends, many of which include our local first responders.”...