A wildfire in Alberta has forced the closure of a major highway through Jasper National Park, and an evacuation alert has been issued for both the park and for the Municipality of Jasper.
RCMP said late Monday that the Municipality of Jasper is impacted by wildfires in the area, and Highway 16 will be closed for westbound travel at the Jasper Park gates, on the east side.
Eastbound access to Jasper will also be blocked, and Highway 93 along Athabasca River is also closed.
Parks Canada said earlier in the evening that its fire crews and the Jasper Fire Department were responding to a wildfire around the town’s transfer station, located approximately nine kilometres northeast of the Jasper townsite.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was later issued for the town and the park, saying that while there was no immediate threat to the town, people should prepare for a possible evacuation.
RCMP are advising that travel is not recommended west of Hinton, Alta.
“Please avoid the Jasper National Park area along Highway 16 and allow First Responders to do their jobs safely,” RCMP said in a news release.
Parks Canada said in a Facebook post that evacuations have taken place at numerous campgrounds, as well as the Athabasca Hostel and the Palisades Stewardship and Education Centre.
“Parks Canada is responding to multiple wildfire starts. This is an evolving and dynamic situation,” the agency said in the post.
About 7,500 people in Alberta were under evacuation orders Monday.
The three communities that make up Little Red River Cree Nation — John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake and Garden River — remain under evacuation order as the out-of-control Semo Wildfire Complex burns nearby. It’s estimated to be more than 960 square kilometres in size.
