Discussion Forums » Photography Topics

Jasper National Park evacuated (Oct 1 update)

Moderator: E.J. Peiker

All times are UTC-05:00

« Previous topic | Next topic »

0 people like this post

First unread post

| 24 posts |

Page 1 of 2

1 2 »

by John Labrenz on Wed Jul 24, 2024 1:02 am

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Heads up to those planning a trip to Jasper.
The town and all of Jasper National Park have been evacuated due to several wildfires.

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/jasper-wildfire-evacuation

Last edited by John Labrenz on Tue Oct 01, 2024 8:57 pm, edited 10 times in total.

0 people like this post

by SantaFeJoe on Wed Jul 24, 2024 4:35 pm

SantaFeJoe
Forum Contributor

Posts: 8648
Joined: 28 Jan 2012
Location: Somewhere Out In The Wilds

On a side note, it's interesting that here in New Mexico, we are getting smoke from Canadian and PNW wildfires.

Joe

Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. -Pablo Picasso

0 people like this post

by Kerry on Wed Jul 24, 2024 10:04 pm

Kerry
Forum Contributor

Posts: 925
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Location: Chicago area/Wilmington, DE area

Visit website

I've seen reports online this evening stating that the fire has entered the town of Jasper and multiple structures are on fire. One report I saw said that the the Petro Canada gas station suffered an explosion. I wonder if anything is going to be left when this is over. What a tragedy.

Kerry Leibowitz

Lightscapes Nature Photography

Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Thu Jul 25, 2024 1:59 am

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Kerry wrote: I've seen reports online this evening stating that the fire has entered the town of Jasper and multiple structures are on fire. One report I saw said that the the Petro Canada gas station suffered an explosion. I wonder if anything is going to be left when this is over. What a tragedy.

Confirmed that multiple structures are on fire in town tonight.

Maligne lodge destroyed

https://globalnews.ca/news/10640343/jasper-alberta-wildfire-evacuees-travel/

Terrible news.

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:13 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

John Labrenz wrote: Heads up to those planning a trip to Jasper.
The town and all of Jasper National Park have been evacuated due to several wildfires.

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/jasper-wildfire-evacuation

Approximately 350+ structures destroyed or damaged in the town of Jasper.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10645068/jasper-wildfire-before-and-after-pictures-destruction/

https://www.fitzhugh.ca/local-news/jasper-fire-complex-now-estimated-to-be-36000-hectares-9271516

0 people like this post

by Kerry on Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:33 pm

Kerry
Forum Contributor

Posts: 925
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Location: Chicago area/Wilmington, DE area

Visit website

There's a brief video embedded in a NYT's story (paywalled: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/worl ... hters.html) that shows part of the neighborhood on the west side of Jasper. It's basically a complete disaster. It reminds me of the images of Lahaina after the Maui wildfires devastated that town.

It's tragic what's happening in Jasper NP.

Kerry Leibowitz

Lightscapes Nature Photography

Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Fri Jul 26, 2024 10:46 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Kerry wrote: There's a brief video embedded in a NYT's story (paywalled: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/26/worl ... hters.html) that shows part of the neighborhood on the west side of Jasper. It's basically a complete disaster. It reminds me of the images of Lahaina after the Maui wildfires devastated that town.

It's tragic what's happening in Jasper NP.

Yes Kerry....very similar to images of Lahaina.

There are quite a few videos of the Jasper townsite, but I did not feel comfortable to show them.

In addition there is damage to infrastructure (bridges/campgrounds, etc) that will come to light soon.

It is a very sad and heartbreaking situation.

On a positive note, the north /east side of town was spared.
Jasper Park Lodge has some damage but the main lodge is intact according to reports.
The area has had some rain in the past day or so....this will help in efforts to control the blaze.

0 people like this post

by E.J. Peiker on Sat Jul 27, 2024 4:00 pm

E.J. Peiker
Senior Technical Editor

Posts: 86887
Joined: 16 Aug 2003
Location: Arizona
Member #:00002

View portfolio

Oh wow, this hurts to look at what happened to a place i know and love.

E.J. Peiker http://www.EJPhoto.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/EJ-Peiker-Nature-Photographer/

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Sun Aug 04, 2024 11:18 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Jasper Park remains closed and likely will be closed for some time.
Parks Canada has cancelled all campground reservations to Sept 3.
Direct east west though traffic is only open to commercial weight vehicles on a limited basis.
The fire remains out of control and sadly, a firefighter lost his life yesterday.

0 people like this post

by E.J. Peiker on Mon Aug 05, 2024 6:03 pm

E.J. Peiker
Senior Technical Editor

Posts: 86887
Joined: 16 Aug 2003
Location: Arizona
Member #:00002

View portfolio

Horrible news, thanks for keeping us posted, John.

E.J. Peiker http://www.EJPhoto.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/EJ-Peiker-Nature-Photographer/

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Thu Aug 08, 2024 11:26 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

The main east west highway through the park will reopen tomorrow to all vehicles.
It will be limited to daytime only ...and NO stopping is allowed within the park.

The icefields parkway (hwy 93) south of Jasper remains closed. It will be reopened from the south up to the Columbia Icefields.

Further details in the link;

https://globalnews.ca/news/10688208/jas ... eopenings/

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Mon Aug 12, 2024 12:39 am

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Pictures of town damage, outside of town damage and campground/infrastructure damage;

https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper ... age-damage

0 people like this post

by Scott Fairbairn on Mon Aug 12, 2024 8:05 am

Scott Fairbairn
Forum Contributor

Posts: 5148
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Member #:00437

View portfolio

John Labrenz wrote: Pictures of town damage, outside of town damage and campground/infrastructure damage;

https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper ... age-damage

Terrible. I'm surprised at the number of destroyed vehicles. Maybe people with more than one vehicle piled into one and fled, and hoped the other would survive?

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:05 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

The fire is now classified as "being held" and is not expected to grow.
The town of Jasper has been reopened for residents & business owners ONLY to assess/deal with damage and begin reestablishing the community.
Jasper National Park itself remains closed to the general public and only through transit (no stopping) is allowed.
One exception is that the public will have access to Miette Hot Springs and Miette bungalows/cabins effective tomorrow, August 18th.
The Miette area is at the eastern boundary of the Park and was not affected by the fire.

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:04 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Hwy 93 south of Jasper townsite has been reopened....no stopping allowed within Jasper national park.

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:32 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Parks Canada has issued a notice that all campgrounds will be closed for the remainder of 2024 and existing reservations will be refunded.
Jasper National Park remains closed to visitors and is only open for through traffic.
Limited exceptions are the Miette hot springs area and the Pyramid lake day use area.

Area Closure: Jasper National Park, except for defined areas and transportation corridors - Bulletins - * - Jasper National Park (canada.ca)

0 people like this post

by Kerry on Thu Aug 29, 2024 10:56 pm

Kerry
Forum Contributor

Posts: 925
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Location: Chicago area/Wilmington, DE area

Visit website

Was the Pyramid Lake area not impacted by the fire? Given how relatively close it is to the town, and how one of the fires was approaching fro the north, I had visions of that whole Pyramid Lake/Patricia Lake/Cottonwood Slough area being devastated.

Kerry Leibowitz

Lightscapes Nature Photography

Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:14 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Kerry wrote: Was the Pyramid Lake area not impacted by the fire? Given how relatively close it is to the town, and how one of the fires was approaching fro the north, I had visions of that whole Pyramid Lake/Patricia Lake/Cottonwood Slough area being devastated.

I have not had a chance to get up there yet...but hope to do so before winter.

I do know that the firefighters had been concentrating on containment efforts in both the Pyramid Bench area and the Marmot Basin area at one point during the fire.
My suspicion....and hope, is that the Pyramid lake area has been spared.

Edit;
It looks like the Pyramid/Patricia/Cottonwood area is OK....see link below;

Wildfire status — Jasper Wildfire Complex - Jasper National Park (canada.ca)

0 people like this post

by Kerry on Thu Aug 29, 2024 11:46 pm

Kerry
Forum Contributor

Posts: 925
Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Location: Chicago area/Wilmington, DE area

Visit website

Thanks for posting that link.

Yup, it appears that the greater Pyramid Lake area was outside the fire zone. Ditto the area around Mt. Edith Cavell and Cavell Lake, up in the high country, and Maligne Lake and most of the length of Maligne Lake Road. (I was afraid that the area around Medicine Lake would be devastated for the second time in a decade.)

But the entire length of Highway 93A appears to have been impacted; ditto the Icefields Parkway all the way north from Athabasca Falls.

I'll be really interested to hear your impressions if you have the opportunity to visit the area later this year.

Kerry Leibowitz

Lightscapes Nature Photography

Lightscapes Nature Photography Blog

Last edited by Kerry on Fri Aug 30, 2024 3:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

0 people like this post

by John Labrenz on Fri Aug 30, 2024 3:06 pm

John Labrenz
Moderator

Posts: 17347
Joined: 13 Nov 2008
Location: Canada
Member #:01304

View portfolio

Kerry wrote: Thanks for posting that link.

Yup, it appears that the greater Pyramid Lake area was outside the fire zone. Ditto the area around Mt. Edith Cavell and Cavell Lake, up in the high country, and Maligne Lake and most of the length of Maligne Lake Road. (I was afraid that the area around Medicine Lake would be devastated for the second time in a decade.)

But the entire length of Highway 93A appears to have been impacted; ditto the Icefields Parkway wall the way north from Athabasca Falls.

I'll be really interested to hear your impressions if you have the opportunity to visit the area later this year.

I believe the fire started in the Mt Kerkeslin area near Athabasca falls and marched north along both sides of HWY 93.

An interesting before and after image from the junction of HWY 93 and the Edith Cavell road...credit Parks Canada;