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9h ago

Federal Reports Confirm Lightning Ignited Jasper Wildfire That Overwhelmed Crews Within Minutes

The analyses urge expanded fuel treatments based on evidence that earlier work reduced impacts.

The remains of a home smoulder in Jasper, Alta., on Friday July 26, 2024. Wildfires encroaching into the townsite of Jasper forced an evacuation of the national park and have destroyed over 300 of the town's approximately 1100 structures, mainly impacting residential areas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken
The remains of hotels in Jasper, Alta., on July 26, 2024. Wildfires encroaching into the townsite of Jasper forced an evacuation of the national park and have destroyed over 300 of the town's approximately 1100 structures, mainly impacting residential areas. An estimated $283 million in property value was lost to last month's fire in Jasper, Alta., the town's administration says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Overview

  • Parks Canada released Natural Resources Canada and FPInnovations reports that detail the 2024 fire’s ignition, spread and impacts.
  • Three lightning strikes within three minutes ignited fires about 23 kilometres south of Jasper, which crowned in under 10 minutes and outpaced direct suppression as 3,500 hectares burned by 11 p.m. on July 22.
  • Extreme behavior was driven by drought, continuous mature conifer fuels and past beetle kill, with convection generating local winds over 200 km/h and flames reaching up to 50 metres.
  • The blaze destroyed roughly one-third of the townsite and forced about 25,000 people to evacuate, with FPInnovations finding embers, structure density and wooden roofs led to widespread ignitions and structure-to-structure spread.
  • The reports do not assign blame, and the cause of a separate north fire remains under investigation with no lightning detected in that area.