Officials report that at least 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate due to Canadian wildfires in Jasper National Park, Canada.
Both the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park in Alberta have been closed and are undergoing evacuations because of active wildfires, according to an announcement from the park on Tuesday.
The evacuation order affects 15,000 visitors and park residents, in addition to about 10,000 people in the town of Jasper, including seasonal workers, as stated by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency.
“The Town of Jasper and Parks Canada’s top priority is the safety of our staff, residents, and visitors,” Jasper National Park emphasized in a statement on Tuesday. “We recognize that this is a stressful time and appreciate everyone’s patience as the situation evolves.”
Thousands of residents and visitors have already evacuated overnight, with multiple wildfires burning in Jasper National Park, the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies.
“Our main goal is to protect the town and community of Jasper, limit the wildfire’s spread toward the town, Highway 16, and critical infrastructure,” Jasper National Park stated.
Reservations in Jasper National Park through August 6 have been canceled, and a reopening date has not yet been determined.
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Alberta is facing “extreme wildfire conditions,” with over 170 wildfires burning across the province, according to the government of Alberta.
