The 2024 Jasper Wildfire: Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the incident, response and recovery

The first report of a wildfire northeast of the town of Jasper near the Jasper transfer station was received on the evening of Monday, July 22, 2024. The wildfire northeast of the community remains under investigation.

Shortly after, three additional wildfires, ignited by lightning, were reported approximately 22 km south of town, which quickly merged into one wildfire. At 8 pm that evening, an evacuation alert was issued and at 10 pm, an evacuation order was issued for Jasper National Park, including the town of Jasper. Within 48 hours, the wildfire reached town.

For more details, visit the official timeline of the Jasper Wildfire web page.

The northeast wildfire started approximately 5 kilometers from the Jasper townsite and the three wildfires south of town quickly merged into one larger wildfire which grew too quickly to be contained. The evacuation was ordered to ensure the safety of residents and visitors when the wildfire demonstrated rapid growth under extreme conditions.

Parks Canada, working in Unified Command with the Municipality of Jasper, efficiently managed the evacuation, prioritizing public safety, securing the town and closing Jasper National Park. Over 20,000 people were evacuated from the town, campgrounds, backcountry areas and other facilities. The swift actions of Parks Canada and Municipality staff, RCMP and other first responders was crucial in preventing injuries or loss of life from areas close to the initial wildfire start locations.

The 2024 Jasper Wildfire began on the evening of July 22, 2024, when multiple wildfires were ignited by lightning. Parks Canada wildland firefighters acted immediately, using helicopter water bucketing and ground suppression, but the wildfires' speed and intensity made direct suppression efforts impossible.

The wildfires’ size expanded quickly, driven by extreme weather conditions (e.g. 45 km/h winds) and record dry vegetation. Jasper National Park had already been under an extreme fire danger rating for 12 days and several wildfires had been worked on in the week prior. Shortly after igniting, these wildfires grew to cover several hundred hectares each. The flames reached heights of 30 to 50 meters and spot fires started up to 500 meters ahead of the main fire.

After initial efforts to contain the wildfires were unsuccessful, the priority shifted to evacuating people from high-risk areas, including Athabasca Falls Wilderness Hostel, Wabasso Campground, Kerkeslin Pit, Snaring and Overflow Campgrounds, the Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre and highways. Focus then moved to protecting the town of Jasper and critical infrastructure.

Crews deployed ^{Footnote *}indirect methods such as sprinkler systems and used controlled ignition techniques to reduce fire intensity and spread rates closest to the townsite. These specific suppression tactics were chosen due to the extreme intensity of the fires between July 22-24, which made direct attack methods impractical and unsafe for wildland firefighters. The observed intensity of the head fire was so severe that any applied water or retardant would evaporate before it could have any suppressive effect. Consequently, indirect methods were necessary.

Aerial retardant drops initially aimed to suppress the fire's sideways growth, but the conditions soon became too windy and turbulent for safe airplane operations. As a result, helicopters were used to continue water bucketing efforts, focusing particularly on controlling the fire's spread close to the community. This was crucial in preventing the north fire from climbing onto Pyramid Bench and advancing toward the community from the north.

These aerial efforts successfully slowed the fire's spread until it rained late on July 24 and into the early hours of July 25. Additionally, ignition operations were strategically used to redirect the south fire’s direct spread toward the community, drawing the fire upslope on both Whistler and Signal Mountains. As the fire moved up these mountains and south of the Jasper Park Lodge, the air currents caused by the head of the fire created a strong draft that pulled the blaze strongly northeast, away from Jasper. This redirection was instrumental in preventing new embers from being dropped on the eastern and northern parts of the community, thus protecting these areas from further damage.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

* Direct attack: Control lines are established adjacent to the fire. Direct attack is conducted on low-intensity wildfires that pose minimal risk to safety of firefighters.

Indirect attack: When wildfires are moderate-to high-intensity, it's unsafe for crews to work close by. Crews work to establish control lines further from the fire, hundreds or thousands of meters away from fire's edge, aiming to box-in the fire.

Return to footnote * referrer

Ignition operations were a key tactic and played a significant role in mitigating the 2024 Jasper Wildfire’s impact on the town and critical infrastructure.

Ignition operations were used in combination with natural and human-made features, such as landscape breaks and vegetation types, to reduce fuel in the wildfire’s path and slow its progression. Parks Canada conducted several ignitions, including in critical areas south of the community on Whistlers Mountain and the slopes of Signal Mountain. These efforts disrupted the wildfire’s northward progression on the west side of the valley and redirected it northeast, away from the community and toward Signal Mountain. Ignition operations were the most effective tool for altering the wildfire’s path and reducing its intensity.

In an effort to protect the town, an ignition designed to bring the wildfire to major holding features like the Athabasca River and Highway 16 was attempted. However, extreme winds, at times exceeding 100 km/h, created unsafe flying conditions for aerial ignition teams, and poor visibility forced the operation to halt. Despite these challenges, the ignition successfully reduced fire intensity on Whistlers Mountain and directed the wildfire on the east side of the Athabasca River up Signal Mountain, away from the community.

During the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, the primary goal was to safeguard human lives and critical infrastructure. This focus included the town of Jasper and essential facilities such as the wastewater treatment plant, hospital, schools, Parks Canada’s operations compound, and key transportation and utility infrastructure.

The wildfire's size and intensity, combined with record-breaking dryness and consistent winds of 45 km/h, resulted in fire behavior that outpaced direct suppression efforts. Given these conditions, wildland firefighters prioritized strategic containment to protect critical infrastructure and control the wildfire’s impact where it posed the greatest threat to people and property. In less populated or remote areas of the park, the wildfire was managed within set boundaries, allowing resources to be concentrated on protecting the town of Jasper and its essential services.

This strategic focus was crucial because critical infrastructure is what allows a community to function and supports residents' daily lives. For example, Jasper’s wastewater treatment plant is vital for safe sewage and grey water disposal. This facility, which took almost three years to build and become fully operational, is indispensable. Without it, residents could not live in the community, and any delay in its functionality would have severely slowed Jasper’s recovery efforts. Similarly, other vital services such as utilities, police, fire services, hospitals, schools, grocery stores, fuel stations, telecommunications, and transportation systems needed to be operational for Jasper residents to return and continue their lives in the community.

By focusing efforts on safeguarding these critical components, the response strategy ensured that the community's essential functions could resume as quickly as possible after the wildfire, significantly aiding recovery and reducing long-term disruption.

From the outset of the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, resources were swiftly deployed to protect the town and surrounding areas. Within the first hour, 25 local firefighters from Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper, supported by 4 helicopters and 8 fire engines, began initial suppression efforts.

Through an existing mutual aid agreement, Alberta Wildfire crews began arriving the night the wildfires started. In the two days following the evacuation alert, additional personnel and equipment were mobilized, including:

• 30 additional firefighters
• 2 helicopters
• heavy equipment
• structural protection equipment
• A Parks Canada National Incident Management Team

Within 24 hours of ignition, over 250 personnel were actively responding to the wildfires.

The response was coordinated under Unified Command between Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper. At the peak of the firefighting efforts, approximately 850 personnel from wildfire management agencies, fire departments, and other first responder agencies from across Canada were on the ground, along with helicopters, air tankers and specialized equipment. This large-scale mobilization was critical in slowing the wildfire’s progression and safeguarding the majority of Jasper’s structures.

For a detailed timeline of resource deployment and operations, visit the official event timeline.

When the wildfires began on July 22, 2024, Jasper National Park had an established local Incident Management Team (IMT), three Type 1 fire crews, and two Type 2 fire crews stationed in the park. These crews had been managing other fires in the park, including the Utopia and Needle Peak wildfires, and performing initial attack duties and smoke patrols to detect new fires early.

Local resources available at the start of the wildfire:

• Incident Management Team (IMT):
  The Jasper IMT followed the Incident Command System structure, with roles including:
• Incident Commander
• Fire Information Officer
• Safety Officer
• Operations Section Chief
• Planning Section Chief
• Division Supervisor
• Logistics Section Chief, with additional logistical support provided by staff at the Parks Canada compound.
• Fire crews:
• Type 1 crews: Specialized teams leading fire suppression on the fire line.
• Type 2 crews: Support crews responsible for building firebreaks, deploying equipment and managing containment lines.
• Equipment and resources:
• Three intermediate-lift helicopters deployed for initial attack water bucketing and observing wildfire activity and directing resources.
• Water tankers and pumps for ground operations.
• Hand tools for building fire lines and managing fuel breaks.
• Structure protection equipment, including sprinkler systems pre-positioned around vulnerable areas.

Ground patrols were ongoing, with crews monitoring high-risk areas for smoke and illegal fires following a fire ban that was implemented on July 12, 2024, due to extreme conditions.

Personnel and reinforcements:

Approximately 50 to 60 personnel were immediately available in Jasper as part of the initial response. As the wildfire rapidly intensified due to high winds and dry vegetation, additional resources were requested. Within hours, reinforcements began arriving, and within days, hundreds of firefighters and specialized equipment from across Canada were deployed to assist.

This initial response enabled local firefighters to act quickly. The extreme conditions on the first day exceeded the capacity of the available resources, making reinforcements essential to manage the escalating situation.

As the wildfire threat escalated, a coordinated response involving multiple agencies and resources was initiated under the Incident Command System. Resources were deployed in stages based on the wildfire’s progression, weather conditions and immediate threats to life and infrastructure. Below is a summary of the key resources and their deployment timeline:

1. Initial local response (July 22, 2024):
• Parks Canada wildland firefighters were the first to respond, deploying ground resources and helicopters for suppression as fires were detected near the Jasper Transfer Station and nearby areas.
• Two Type 1 and two Type 2 fire crews stationed in the park began patrols and suppression efforts.
• Alberta Wildfire crews from Edson arrived in the evening of July 22 to assist with suppression of the north wildfire.
• Air tankers were requested on July 22 but delayed until July 23 due to high winds and fire intensity. Initial retardant drops had limited impact due to the fire’s strength. On July 24, unsafe flying conditions grounded tankers again.
2. Firefighting crews and ground support (July 23, 2024):
• Reinforcements requested on July 22, 2024, began arriving. These included hundreds of wildland firefighters from Parks Canada, Alberta Wildfire, Ontario and other agencies across Canada.
• Structure protection teams deployed high-volume sprinkler systems around the town and critical infrastructure, including 12-inch sprinkler lines. Contractors were put in place to safeguard facilities and homes.
3. Air support and helicopters (July 23 to 24, 2024):
• Helicopters were deployed for water bucketing and evacuating backcountry campers from remote areas.
• A Blackhawk heavy-lift helicopter from Alberta Wildfire arrived to assist with heavy equipment transport and water drops, supporting operations for the next 3 weeks.
4. Specialized ground equipment (July 23 to 24, 2024):
• Bulldozers and other heavy machinery were used to create firebreaks. These operations were halted when wildfire behaviour created unsafe conditions. Operations resumed several hours later when it was safe to do so.
• Structure protection specialists set up more high-volume sprinkler systems and conducted tactical ignitions to remove fuel ahead of the wildfire.
5. Firefighters and resources from across Canada (July 24, 2024, onwards):
• By July 24, hundreds of additional wildland and structural firefighters arrived from across Canada, focusing on protecting the Jasper townsite, critical infrastructure and evacuated areas including Wabasso campground and Whirlpool group camping area.
• Additional air resources, including smaller helicopters for precision water drops and infrared technology to detect hotspots, were deployed to inaccessible areas.
6. Unified Command and continued support (July 23 to August 2024):
• A Parks Canada National Incident Management Team arrived on the evening of July 23 and joined Unified Command on July 24. Canada Task Force 2 provided support to the Municipality of Jasper starting the morning of July 25.
• Hundreds of personnel rotated through 2-week shifts to manage the fire.
• As conditions stabilized, resources that were no longer required were demobilized. Helicopters, ground crews and firefighting personnel remained to patrol and extinguish hotspots, focusing on areas including the Maligne Valley, Whirlpool River drainage and Overlander Trail.

These resources were critical in protecting the Jasper townsite from immediate wildfire threats and supporting recovery efforts, ensuring the safety of residents and the preservation of key infrastructure.

When a wildfire enters a community, it can spread rapidly from structure to structure through spotting, embers and radiant heat. If water or other suppression methods are not effective at stopping radiant heat from spreading between buildings, firefighters may need to create fuel breaks using heavy equipment.

In a community, this can mean pulling down certain structures to create firebreaks that slow the wildfire’s spread and provide firefighters with safe and effective positions to regain control.

The decision to dismantle or demolish structures during the wildfire was not made lightly. Specialists in wildland-urban interface and municipal fire chiefs worked diligently to prevent entire blocks of houses and buildings from being lost as the wildfire spread from one structure to another. In situations where water suppression was ineffective, these experienced professionals resorted to the only remaining tactic to prevent the wildfire from spreading to unaffected structures. Once the winds calmed and rain fell in the Jasper townsite, firefighters successfully suppressed and extinguished the remaining fires using water. These critical actions were driven by clear priorities: saving lives, protecting as much of the community as possible, and containing the fire.

Decisions were based on:

• firefighter safety in dangerous and rapidly changing conditions
• real-time assessments of wildfire behaviour
• the strategic need to create firebreaks that could prevent the wildfire from advancing further into populated areas.

These decisions were driven by the need to protect the community as a whole and address the immediate dangers posed by the wildfire. Some structures were demolished after they had already caught fire. This tactic helped to contain the wildfire to the affected structure and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings. In every case, the focus was on minimizing losses and safeguarding as much as possible, given the speed and intensity of the wildfire.

Helicopters began water bucketing operations on the north wildfire as soon as it was reported, focusing on protecting critical infrastructure.

Air tanker support was requested immediately on July 22, 2024, but several factors prevented their use on the first day:

• many aircraft in the region were already assigned to other wildfires threatening nearby communities;
• unsafe flying conditions, including high winds and poor visibility from smoke, made aerial firefighting too dangerous;
• the wildfire’s rapid spread and extreme intensity created conditions where retardant drops would have had minimal impact, even if deployed.

Additionally, air tankers from British Columbia were requested but could not fly due to thunderstorms blocking mountain passes and others were already committed to fighting wildfires in the province.

Air tankers can be highly effective when used on smaller wildfires, but their effectiveness diminishes as fires grow larger. They were eventually used on the west side of the south wildfire on July 23, attempting to suppress the wildfire’s spread. However, the intense updrafts near the area created very challenging flying conditions. One air attack officer reported it as the most dangerous and unstable air he had ever flown in. The continuous poor visibility and the dangerous air currents made flying near the mountains and terrain unacceptably risky, which led to the decision to pull back air tanker operations for safety reasons.

On the ground, wildland and structural firefighters prioritized human life, deploying resources to assist with the safe evacuation of residents and visitors. Tactical evacuations began before the broader evacuation order, including the Athabasca Falls Wilderness Hostel, Wabasso campground, Snaring and Overflow campgrounds, the Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre, Kerkeslin Pit and several self-registration campgrounds located on Highway 93. The quick actions of firefighters, RCMP, Parks Canada campground attendants, and trail crews played a crucial role in saving lives on the night of July 22.

By July 23, flying conditions had improved slightly, and air tankers began conducting retardant drops. However, the fire’s strength and prevailing winds continued to limit the effectiveness of these efforts.

Strategic decisions about when and how to deploy air resources were made by Incident Commanders and experienced air attack officers using real-time assessments to prioritize safety for both firefighters and the public.

Water bombers require large, deep-water sources, such as lakes or rivers, to skim water for their drops. They also need safe surrounding terrain and favourable flying conditions to operate effectively. In Jasper, the combination of unsafe flying conditions on July 22, 2024, and the lack of nearby suitable waterbodies prevented water bombers from being used during the wildfire response.

Water bombers work best when they can quickly cycle between filling their tanks and dropping water on the fire, allowing them to suppress wildfire spread effectively. In this case, helicopters were deployed instead. While they carry less water, helicopters are more versatile and can draw from smaller and more varied water sources, making them better suited to the terrain and conditions in Jasper.

On July 23, fixed-wing aircraft were used for retardant drops. These tankers, which are filled with fire retardant at an airport, drop the liquid strategically to create control lines. However, the wildfire’s intensity and extreme conditions on July 23 limited the effectiveness of these drops.

Additional retardant drops were requested on July 24, but unsafe flying conditions once again prevented fixed-wing aircraft from operating.

This is not the case. Stone Mountain Village had the same sprinkler density as the rest of the sprinkler-line perimeter around the Cabin Creek area properties.

Private businesses were not prioritized over residential homes. In Unified Command, Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper followed a structured wildfire-response approach that prioritized human life first, followed by critical infrastructure and property, including homes, businesses and natural resources. Resource distribution decisions were made by assessing wildfire behaviour, weather conditions and geographical vulnerabilities, without any preference for commercial properties over residential ones. This approach was part of established wildfire planning and operational exercises conducted in the past.

Protection efforts were determined based on factors such as the proximity of wildfire threats, the availability of firefighting resources and the potential risks to public safety. In some cases, structure protection was deployed to private businesses located beyond the municipality of Jasper. These actions were taken strategically to prevent the wildfire from spreading into residential areas and further threatening the community.

Structural protection and community safety remained top priorities throughout the wildfire response. All decisions were made to protect as much as possible with the available resources and the rapidly changing conditions of the wildfire.

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized emergency management framework that is widely used in Canada, the USA and around the world. This command-and-control structure, used to manage emergency incidents, ensures everyone involved knows their role, follows a common plan and communicates effectively. The ICS is flexible and scalable, adapting to incidents of any size or complexity. For the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, the system expanded as the wildfire grew, with additional personnel and resources brought in based on the needs of the situation. This structured framework coordinated everything from firefighting operations to logistics and public communication, ensuring an organized and effective response.

During the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, ICS allowed Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper to work together under a Unified Command structure and enabled additional agencies to participate in a variety of key ICS roles. This approach ensured that objectives were aligned, resources were allocated efficiently and decisions were made quickly. Rather than working as separate teams, ICS facilitated collaboration to prioritize public safety, protect critical infrastructure and respond to the wildfire as it evolved.

How the ICS works:

• Clear roles and structure:
  The ICS provides a clear structure with well-defined roles to ensure an organized and effective response. At the top is the Incident Commander, responsible for overall management of the incident, setting objectives and ensuring the plan is followed. In Unified Command, multiple Incident Commanders represent each agency with jurisdiction. For the Jasper Wildfire, this included Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper.

Other key areas within the ICS structure include:

• Operations: Focuses on tactical, on-the-ground efforts, such as firefighting, incident stabilization and emergency response. Operations personnel directly execute the strategies outlined in the plan and work closely with field teams.
• Planning: Collects, analyzes and shares real-time information. This team develops short- and long-term strategies to respond to the incident’s current conditions and anticipated challenges.
• Logistics: Ensures critical resources, such as personnel, equipment, facilities and services, are available to meet current and future needs. This includes managing base camps, food, water and communication tools to support the response effort.
• Finance and administration: Manages procurement, accounting, cost tracking and financial analysis. This role ensures that resources are distributed efficiently and monitors the financial impact of the incident response.
• Command: This section is made up of personnel who provide public information, safety and liaison services. These officers provide timely communication to staff on the incident, residents, partners, media and stakeholders.

Each team is specialized and works together under a unified structure to ensure all aspects of the incident are addressed effectively.

• Coordination among agencies:
  ICS facilitates smooth communication and collaboration between multiple agencies, including fire departments, police, disaster management teams, environmental specialists and public health officials. During the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, this coordination was essential for managing not just the wildfire itself but also evacuations, community safety and public communication. For example, while firefighters focused on suppression efforts, municipal teams managed road closures, evacuation logistics and communication with residents.
• Adaptability:
  One of ICS’s greatest strengths is its flexibility. It can expand or contract based on the size and complexity of an incident. During the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, when conditions intensified, additional personnel and equipment were integrated seamlessly into the structure without disrupting ongoing operations. Similarly, as the wildfire was contained, ICS scaled down appropriately. This adaptability allowed the system to remain effective even as conditions changed rapidly, prioritizing safety for responders and the public during the unpredictable wildfire.

The Incident Command System (ICS) was pivotal in coordinating the response to the Jasper Wildfire, ensuring effective management across various fronts including firefighting, evacuations, and public communication. The ICS allowed emergency responders from different organizations to collaborate effectively. These included Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, contract helicopter crews, wildland and structural firefighting personnel, and representatives from agencies across Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and the Yukon. Industrial service providers like ATCO energy, TMX, CN Rail, and other hired contractors, along with the RCMP and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, all operated under a common understanding of reporting structures and responsibilities.

Under the Unified Incident Command, Parks Canada coordinated wildland fire response and the establishment of control lines, while the Municipality of Jasper focused on community protection and readiness. Parks Canada also collaborated with national and provincial wildfire partners and specialist contractors nationwide, particularly with Alberta Wildfire, to mobilize necessary resources. At the same time, the Municipality of Jasper worked alongside the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to gather support from other municipalities, counties, and contractors throughout Alberta. This structured coordination ensured that all teams had clear objectives and strategies and were well-supported with the necessary logistics for safe and effective management during the extended emergency.

Under the incident command system (ICS) unified command is setup when there is shared jurisdiction or the very likely threat of an incident requiring shared jurisdiction.

Following this principle from one incident to the next helps to ensure clarity and consistency in emergency management response and it is required for having delegated authority to make decisions in an area where administrators have jurisdiction. In the case of the Jasper Wildfire, unified command was comprised of the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada as the land managers and administrators for Jasper. The Government of Alberta, through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and Alberta Wildfire, was closely involved throughout the incident as a key partner.

While many people are eager to help during a wildfire, safety is the highest priority. Using the Incident Command System (ICS) ensures safety and efficiency. This isn’t about discouraging help; it’s about ensuring that everyone involved is properly trained, equipped, briefed and integrated into a coordinated effort. Wildfire management is complex and dangerous, so all offers of aid must go through formal channels to prevent risks and maintain organization.

Mechanisms for involvement include resource-sharing agreements, partnerships, or contracts, which should ideally be established before an incident. These agreements define roles, responsibilities and liabilities while ensuring resources meet response needs. If individuals or organizations want to contribute during a wildfire, they should contact the appropriate authorities to submit a formal offer of assistance and should include details about ICS capabilities, personnel qualifications and available resources.

This approach is essential for several key reasons:

• Safety first: Wildfire response is hazardous and requires specialized training and equipment. Everyone on the front lines must be certified and prepared for their assigned tasks. Untrained volunteers or organizations can endanger themselves and others. For example, during poor visibility in smoky conditions, an unexpected vehicle accessing a wildfire zone could endanger firefighters working in the area.
• Maintaining coordination: ICS works best when all participants operate within the established plan. If unvetted individuals or organizations join without proper integration, it can disrupt communication, misallocate resources or create confusion, which could slow response efforts and put lives at risk.
• Accountability: Every action in an ICS response is tracked, and everyone involved has a clear reporting structure. Introducing outside help without proper integration can lead to gaps in accountability, making it harder to manage the situation, protect property and address dangerous or unhelpful behaviour.

By following these procedures, ICS ensures that all responders can work safely and effectively to manage the wildfire and protect communities.

Parks Canada is highly experienced in responding to extreme wildfires, with trained wildland firefighters and incident management teams who have managed large-scale fires. Decades of experience in national parks, as well as assisting provinces and territories that include Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, as well as international jurisdictions, has built a strong foundation for responding to wildfires like the 2024 Jasper Wildfire.

In Jasper National Park specifically, proactive planning and wildfire risk reduction efforts, including fuel management, prescribed fires and fireguards, were critical in limiting damage during this unprecedented event. However, the extreme conditions during this wildfire, including record-breaking fuel dryness and rapid fire growth, pushed the boundaries of what any preparation could achieve. The full scale of this wildfire is still being assessed, but no wildfire recorded in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta or British Columbia has grown as large, as quickly, or with such intensity as this wildfire did between July 22 and 24, 2024.

Key preparation measures for an event of this magnitude included:

• Emergency response planning: Jasper National Park and the Municipality of Jasper developed and regularly updated emergency response plans for wildfires threatening the community, with assistance from Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Just weeks before the Jasper Wildfire, Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, Alberta Emergency Management Agency, Alberta Wildfire and the RCMP conducted a tabletop exercise to practise their response to a wildfire threatening the town.
• Fuel management and fireguards: Since 1994, Parks Canada has reduced wildfire risk by thinning and clearing over 1,700 hectares of land surrounding the Jasper townsite and constructing key fireguards, such as the Signal Mountain and Community fireguards. These features were crucial in slowing the wildfire’s progression and providing strategic defence lines for firefighting efforts.
• Prescribed fires: Over the past 30 years, Parks Canada has conducted 45 prescribed fires around Jasper, covering more than 4,600 hectares. These prescribed fires reduced excess vegetation, helped to restore ecosystem health and resilience, and helped limit the amount of fuel available for wildfires.
• FireSmart initiatives: Since 2001, Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper have worked with property owners to implement FireSmart Canada principles. These efforts made properties more resilient by removing hazardous vegetation around structures. Jasper was a leader in this initiative: Lake Edith became the first community in Canada to earn FireSmart Canada's "Safe Neighbourhood" certification, and the Jasper Park Lodge became the first corporate property in the country to receive this distinction.

Parks Canada’s extensive preparation efforts helped reduce the wildfire’s impact despite extreme conditions. These measures provided critical protection for the community and the park during this record-breaking wildfire.

Jasper Wildfire 2024:

By mid-July 2024, a fire ban was put in place and extreme fire danger had been declared due to an extended heatwave. Emergency plans were activated and additional resources were brought in ahead of time. The wildfire, driven by the driest fuel levels recorded since 1962 and intense winds, led to the evacuation of over 20,000 people. Despite these extreme conditions, coordinated efforts—including pre-existing fire preparedness measures such as fireguards and fuel reduction projects—helped save over 70 percent of the town's structures, including all critical infrastructure. This devastating wildfire was partly mitigated by proactive measures in place for decades, including prescribed fires and FireSmart initiatives.

Parks Canada’s long-term preparations significantly reduced the wildfire’s overall impact, but the magnitude of this event was unprecedented. The efforts in place provided essential protection, yet the community’s losses were profound. Parks Canada remains committed to learning from this experience and collaborating with partners to enhance future wildfire preparedness and response.

Warming climate trends likely contributed to the conditions that intensified the 2024 Jasper Wildfire. Prolonged dry periods, higher-than-average temperatures, and strong winds are all consistent with the impacts of climate change and created conditions in late July 2024 that intensified wildfire behavior, significantly contributing to the fire’s intensity and rapid growth.

As climate trends continue to increase the severity of wildfire conditions, Parks Canada is actively enhancing its fire management strategies to address these challenges. The agency is increasing suppression resources, extending fire fighting seasons, and implementing additional wildfire protection measures through risk reduction projects and infrastructure investments. Efforts to reduce structural vulnerability in the community are being prioritized, alongside increased training for emergency responders and updates to fire risk models. Parks Canada is also working to implement more prescribed fires and other risk reduction actions to break up fuel continuity on the landscape.

Collaborative efforts with the Municipality of Jasper and provincial wildfire management agencies are crucial. These partnerships help us learn from past incidents and prepare for future emergency events. By deploying the best available expertise and collaborating with other agencies, contractors, and industry, Parks Canada aims to adapt to the increasing challenges posed by wildfires in Canada.

Re-entry for Jasper residents and businesses began on August 16, 2024. This milestone indicated that the townsite was deemed safe, with essential services restored sufficiently for residents and businesses to return and commence the recovery process.

Criteria and Process for Safe Re-entry: The decision to allow re-entry was grounded in meeting specific safety criteria and benchmarks established by the Unified Command, led by Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper. These criteria were designed to ensure that the townsite had stabilized enough to support returning residents and businesses safely. The benchmarks included:

• Structural Safety Assessments: Ensuring that buildings were structurally sound and safe to occupy.
• Utility Restoration: Confirmation that essential services such as water, electricity, and sewage were operational.
• Emergency Services Readiness: Availability of medical, fire, and police services to handle any immediate needs of the community.
• Road and Transport Safety: Clear and safe access routes for residents to return and for ongoing recovery operations.

The re-entry process was facilitated by extensive planning and coordinated efforts involving various partners and agencies, including federal, provincial, and municipal governments, key partners such as the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, utility companies, and contractors. This collaborative approach ensured that all aspects of the town's infrastructure and service needs were addressed comprehensively before re-entry was authorized.

The 2024 Jasper Wildfire was classified “Under Control” on September 7, 2024. This meant that the wildfire had received sufficient suppression action to ensure there would be no further spread. As of date, the fire is still classified as Under Control.

Throughout the fall of 2024, Parks Canada continued to monitor and action hotspots and patrol in the Overlander Trail area, Maligne Valley and Whirlpool River drainage, using helicopters and ground crews. Updated information on the 2024 Jasper Wildfire can be found here.

Recovery efforts are underway both inside the townsite and throughout the national park. The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre is leading and coordinating recovery efforts in town, while Parks Canada also has specific work underway outside the town. Updated information on all aspects of recovery is being updated on the Jasper Recovery website.

The Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre (JRCC) was established on August 22, 2024, as a collaborative initiative between Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper. This partnership builds on the success of their Unified Command approach during the wildfire response. The JRCC’s primary mandate is to coordinate the recovery process with support from federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as key partners.

The JRCC operates as a centralized hub where teams from Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, and other partners work side-by-side daily. Collaboration is structured around key working groups focused on specific recovery objectives with participation from all levels of Government. These groups evolve as recovery needs change. Current working groups include:

Temporary accommodation: Securing and coordinating housing for essential workers so that immediate housing solutions were in place while longer term interim housing plans are developed. Interim housing: Defining housing needs, exploring options, securing funding. Identifying possible sites and assessing them, putting agreements, and permitting in place, coordinating servicing of public utilities. Debris management: Coordinates the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible removal of wildfire debris in the townsite. Jasper Town rebuilding: Supports recovery through updates to land use policies, streamlined development application processes, and responsive support for rebuilding inquiries. Social recovery: Strengthens community engagement, fosters mental health support, and encourages residents to build resilience together. Economic recovery: Focuses on fostering sustainable economic recovery, enhancing community capacity, and driving multi-agency collaboration.

In addition, Parks Canada is working on recovery efforts specifically related to park infrastructure, including rebuild of campgrounds, trails, attractions and staff accommodation.

Updates on this work may be found on the Jasper Recovery website which is being updated regularly.

No. The Jasper Wildfire was caused by multiple lightning strikes and possibly industrial ignition during record-setting dry conditions and strong winds. While mountain pine beetle affected trees were present, they were not the cause. The intensity of the fires was driven by extreme weather conditions, including prolonged dryness and high winds.

Trees affected by mountain pine beetle may have contributed to increased fire intensity in certain areas. This escalation in fire intensity could result in stronger winds and greater heat emanation from the fire. Notably, the sections of the fire with the highest concentrations of beetle-killed trees exhibited less intense and severe impacts from the fire. This subdued fire behavior may be attributed to greater spacing between tree crowns, which can slow down the spread of the fire.

The most intense and severe wildfire effects in Jasper were noted in regions with a lower prevalence of pine trees. Specifically, on the west side of the Athabasca Valley, including the benchlands stretching from Edith Cavell Road to Whistler Mountain and the north-facing slopes of Signal Mountain. These areas are characterized by a higher proportion of non-pine tree species.

Mountain pine beetle (MPB)-related fuels influenced the wildfire in localized ways:

• Grey-stage areas: MPB-killed trees that have dropped their needles and turned grey result in reduced canopy density and can limit crown wildfire spread and lower wildfire severity.
• Red-stage areas: MPB-killed trees that have retained their needles and turned red may increase wildfire intensity due to their high flammability. Jasper National Park moved past the red stage of MPB-affected trees around 2019–2020.

While MPB-affected fuels contributed to wildfire behaviour, the severity of the wildfire was primarily driven by extreme weather conditions and record-setting dryness.

Since 2017, Parks Canada has been actively removing trees killed by mountain pine beetle (MPB) near the community of Jasper. In 2018, 300 hectares west of town were logged, and between 2019 and 2022, hundreds of hectares south of the community were cleared to enhance earlier thinning and fuel management efforts.

Most fire studies of forests significantly impacted by mountain pine beetle have found that once trees have shed their needles, specifically after the "red needle phase," these forests are less prone to severe and intense wildfires. Additionally, standing dead trees can provide vital food and habitat, contributing to the healthy recovery of these forests.

Removing all MPB-killed trees from Jasper National Park is neither feasible nor ecologically responsible for the following reasons:

• Scale and priorities: The MPB infestation affected vast areas of the park. Parks Canada prioritized wildfire risk reduction near vulnerable areas, such as roads, town infrastructure and critical facilities, instead of attempting park-wide tree removal.
• Targeted management: Over 1,700 hectares in high-priority areas have been treated through strategic fuel management and FireSmart Canada projects to protect communities and infrastructure.
• Ecological importance: Most of the forest canopy and regenerating younger trees are healthy; they provide critical habitat, regulate water, stabilize slopes and reduce drying from wind and sunlight. Dead trees play an essential role in the ecosystem by aiding natural forest regeneration. Complete removal would damage soils, remove nutrients, alter habitats and harm biodiversity.

Parks Canada continues to address the impacts of MPB through targeted actions, balancing the need to protect people and infrastructure with the preservation of the park’s ecosystem.

Unlike the firebreak on Pyramid Bench, the area south of Jasper already had several natural and man-made control lines in place, which influenced the decision not to establish a similar firebreak. These included:

• CN rail line and its right-of-way
• Trans Mountain 40-metre cleared right-of-way
• Highway 16 and its right-of-way
• Athabasca River and Miette River
• Highway 93A
• Open areas such as Marmot Meadows, Whistlers, and Wapiti Campgrounds

These features formed a barrier that significantly limited the spread of the crown wildfire towards the community. However, towering smoke and embers were able to travel beyond these control lines, impacting parts of Jasper’s west side. Despite these challenges, the natural and human-made barriers south of Jasper, coupled with strategic thinning of hundreds of hectares of forest, brought the wildfire to ground level, reducing its intensity and spread. This combination proved more effective than creating a new cleared-forest firebreak.

The strategic thinning and existing barriers not only reduced the wildfire’s intensity but also played a critical role in protecting the town of Jasper by preventing severe wildfires near the community. Any wildfires that spotted west of town on Pyramid Bench were extinguished within days, demonstrating the effectiveness of the existing measures.

Parks Canada implemented extensive wildfire risk reduction measures before the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, leveraging decades of proactive strategies. Many of these measures were undertaken in areas within a close proximity of the Jasper townsite and included:

FireSmart initiatives and fuel management

• Crews work year-round to manage vegetation, mitigate mountain pine beetle damage and prepare for wildfire risks, ensuring readiness regardless of season.
• Since 2001, Parks Canada has actively adopted FireSmart principles to reduce wildfire risk. Collaborating with the Municipality of Jasper, the program targeted fuel reduction and forest thinning near the community.
• Since 2003, over 2,000 hectares around the townsite have been treated with mechanical thinning and removal of dead vegetation to reduce fuel availability. For instance, the Pyramid Bench Fuel Reduction Project (2018) removed hazardous lodgepole pine across 500 hectares, significantly enhancing community safety.

Strategic fireguards and hazard reduction projects

• Parks Canada established fireguards like the Signal Mountain Fireguard (2023) and continued annual maintenance on the Community Fireguard (2023 and 2024), reinforcing wildfire defence lines.
• Targeted hazard-tree removal projects in high-use areas, such as campgrounds and resorts (e.g., Alpine Village, Sunwapta Falls, Pyramid Lake Resort), reduced risks to critical infrastructure and visitor facilities.

Indigenous collaboration

Collaboration with Indigenous partners integrates traditional stewardship practices, as seen in the Cultural Use Area wildfire risk reduction measures of 2022, which combined cultural values with modern wildfire management.

Financial and resource commitment

From 2014 to 2023, Parks Canada allocated approximately $2.5 million annually to wildfire risk reduction, with funding increasing by 54% in the past three years (2021 to 2024). Investments support prescribed fires, fireguard construction and community education.

Prescribed fires and ecosystem restoration

• Since the 1980s, Parks Canada has used prescribed fires to manage fuel loads, create natural firebreaks and restore fire-adapted ecosystems. Between 1994 and 2024, 45 prescribed fires were conducted, treating over 4,600 hectares in Jasper National Park.
• Specific examples include the Vine Creek Prescribed Fire (2014, 2015), which burned 650 hectares to create wildfire breaks and reduce mountain pine beetle habitat, and the Henry House Prescribed Fire (2021, 2022), which removed hectares of trees and restored valley bottom grasslands.

These proactive measures play a crucial role in mitigating the severity of wildfires and enhancing community resilience in Jasper National Park.

Parks Canada is continuing wildfire risk reduction efforts in Jasper National Park this winter.

Reducing the risk of wildfire to a community involves a collaborative approach with layers of protection on the landscape and in town to reduce the risk of wildfire. Wildfire risk reduction is top of mind which is why Parks Canada is providing updates on progress being made to further reduce risk to the town. Parks Canada continue to work in partnership with the Municipality of Jasper on FireSmart Canada iniatiatives and improving fire resiliency on critical infrastructure. Residents can also contribute by FireSmart Canada activities and making changes that are in line with updated Jasper development policies. The FireSmart Canada Home Development Guide has information on how to design or retrofit buildings and yards to provide protection from fire.

Following the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, the national park is updating its wildfire risk reduction strategy to address ongoing risks posed by the altered landscape. These actions are part of a multi-year risk reduction commitment to increase wildfire resiliency of the Jasper townsite, outlying commercial operations, critical infrastructure and surrounding provincial lands.

Map of Wildfire Risk Reduction activities in Jasper National Park

Current Wildfire Risk Reduction Activities

Fuel reduction work is expected to continue through the winter, weather permitting, with conditions such as snow cover, wind speed and air quality closely monitored to ensure safe burning.

Pine Bungalows area

Crews are currently working around the wastewater treatment plant and Pine Bungalows. Activities include felling trees, limbing branches, and burning debris piles on-site to reduce potential fire hazards.

Whirlpool River area

Crews are burning debris piles left from trail-clearing work earlier in the year.

Patricia Lake

Later this winter, Parks Canada will conduct additional fuel reduction work near Patricia Lake. This work supports the broader FireSmart initiative to create defensible spaces and improve emergency response access.

West of town

Wildfire risk reduction west of Jasper remains a top priority for Parks Canada. For many years, Parks Canada has maintained reduced vegetation in two areas to the west:

• Community Fireguard: A cleared area of about 50 hectares along Cabin Lake fire road that acts as a line of defence for responders controlling a wildfire.
• Pyramid Bench: In 2018, Parks Canada reduced the amount of dead and dying trees across more than 300 hectares of mountain pine beetle affected forest on Pyramid Bench. This area connects to FireSmart treated areas around town to create a larger protected area to the west of town.

The goal of fuel reduction and forest-thinning in this area is to slow the spread of wildfire by limiting fire intensity, reducing the chance of spot fires ignited by wind-blown embers and improving fire suppression effectiveness. Regular forest thinning is needed to maintain these areas and sustain the benefits of the fireguard.

Parks Canada is conducting ongoing assessments to identify additional wildfire risk reduction opportunities in the area west of town. This winter, Parks Canada is assessing the possibility of clearing an additional 100 hectares of vegetation around Pyramid Bench and the Community Fireguard. This work aims to enhance the continuity and effectiveness of the fireguard as a control feature west of the community.

Whistlers Mountain

Parks Canada is assessing the north slopes of Whistlers Mountain, southwest of Jasper, for a potential fire control line. Parks Canada is investigating a range of options.

FireSmart Canada Principles: What Residents and businesses need to know.

Wildfire risk reduction is a shared responsibility. Parks Canada requires residents and businesses to follow FireSmart Canada principles to protect their properties, support community safety and reduce the wildfire risk for the Jasper community.

FireSmart Canada actions include:

• Roofing and deck materials: Replace flammable materials (e.g., cedar shingles and wooden decks) with fire-resistant alternatives.
• Vegetation management: Create a defensible space around buildings by removing conifer trees close to structures, thinning and limbing dense conifer trees and trimming branches that overhang roofs.
• Removal of combustible materials: Within 1.5 meters of structures, remove all combustible materials. Reduce and manage vegetation up to 30 meters from structures to limit potential fuel sources. Store firewood and other combustible materials away from buildings and under a spark-resistant cover. Clean gutters and rooftops regularly to remove dry debris.
• Watering Vegetation: During dry summer conditions, water vegetation near buildings to keep it hydrated and reduce its chance of ignition. 2-5 mm per day is sufficient when applied in the early morning or late evening.

For more information, visit FireSmart Canada.

These initiatives, along with required FireSmart Canada principles for in-town structures and outlying commercial areas, aim to protect both residents and the natural environment. Jasper National Park’s approach prioritizes not only immediate wildfire suppression but also long-term landscape management and community resilience to mitigate future wildfire risks.