Local News

Jonathan Large, incident commander with Parks Canada, said “being held” means the 33,000-hectare fire isn’t expected to spread in any priority areas.

It could take more than a century for the freshly burned forest in Jasper National Park to regenerate into its previous postcard-perfect form, a wildfire expert says.

While many of Jasper’s buildings had disappeared, Mayor Richard Ireland said it wouldn’t change the core character of the community, noting that the people and the attitude would return in time.

Miette Hot Springs Bungalows, near the hot springs, and Miette Mountain Cabins, located at the junction of Highway 16 and Miette Road, may also reopen the same day.

"There is great attendance by both service providers, and [we] have exceeded our expectations for attendance from residents from the Jasper townsite, so we're really pleased about that."

Today, the first evacuated residents return to the Jasper townsite. Here’s a timeline of the heartbreaking and historic events that happened while they were gone.

Images from the re-entry day in Jasper after three weeks of evacuation.

Jasper residents got their first glimpse of home as they stopped at the east gates of Jasper National Park on Friday (Aug. 16).

More than three weeks after everyone in Jasper had to flee raging wildfires through a curtain of darkness and smoke, some returned Friday morning, greeted by soot-covered tree stumps, Mounties, and long lines of orange traffic cones.

Anyone choosing to say overnight is asked to bring essential supplies to last at least 72 hours, including food, drinking water and medication.