Firefighters in Canada’s Jasper National Park have continued to make progress in bringing wildfires in the region under control, ahead of further dry conditions forecast from Thursday.
In a series of messages on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday evening, national park officials said: “Another day of reduced fire behaviour allowed our 350 firefighters and personnel to make progress again today. Today firefighters from Parks Canada and Alberta Wildfire were again busy mopping up wildfires near values at risk.”
The posts said work continued to widen a “control line” to protect Jasper from “increased fire activity expected on August 1, 2024”, adding: “Weather forecasts indicate that dry conditions will make it easier for the wildfire to grow, making the progress now so important.”
More: Thousands of tourists flee as wildfires continue to ravage Jasper
Wildfires force evacuation of Jasper National Park
Around 25,000 people were evacuated from Jasper and the national park after a lightning storm caused a massive wildfire to break out on Tuesday last week.
Officials said 358 of 1,113 structures in the town were destroyed, but critical infrastructure was protected.
⚠ Jasper Wildfire Complex Update
Current as of 9 pm, July 28, 2024Wildfire status
Another day of reduced fire behaviour allowed our 350 firefighters and personnel to make progress again today. Today firefighters from Parks Canada and Alberta Wildfire were again busy pic.twitter.com/6ikFIRiwM5— Jasper National Park, Parks Canada (@JasperNP) July 29, 2024
Photo: Sopotnicki/Shutterstock.com