An evacuation is under way after an order was issued for residents and tourists to leave Jasper National Park and the town of Jasper in Canada because of wildfires.
Parks Canada – the government agency which manages the national parks – said it is responding to “multiple wildfire starts”.
A statement posted on Facebook by Jasper National Park on Tuesday morning [UK time] said: “There are multiple wildfires in Jasper National Park. This is an evolving situation.
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“Parks Canada fire personnel will continue assessing the wildfires at sunrise.
“Parks Canada has mobilised resources to arrive Tuesday morning, including a Parks Canada Incident Management Team and additional firefighting resources and aircraft.”
Sightseeing train operator Rocky Mountaineer said on its website: “The wildfire situation is active in parts of British Columbia and Alberta. The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we will continue to monitor the situation closely to evaluate any potential impact.”
Regarding the evacuation order for the town of Jasper, it added: “Any guests who are currently at a hotel will be provided guidance from the teams there on how to proceed and safely evacuate the town.
“At this time, all First Passage to the West and Rockies to the Red Rocks journeys are scheduled to depart as planned. If there is a change to your journey, our team will reach out to you directly.
“Please be aware that there may be some reduced visibility of scenery and outdoor air quality along the Canadian routes due to wildfires.”
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