Visitors, campers and residents of Jasper National Park were told to get out late Monday night as high temperatures and winds fanned the flames of a wildfire threatening the national park in western Alberta.
An Alberta Emergency Alert issued just before 10 p.m. MT and updated afterwards said there is a wildfire south of town.
An evacuation order has been issued for both the Jasper townsite and the rest of the national park.
Everyone in Jasper and Jasper National Park must evacuate now, the alert said, as the the fire is coming towards the community.
The alert initially said the fire was expected to reach the community in five hours, or around 3 a.m. Tuesday, but was later updated around 11 p.m. to clarify everyone in the community needed to be out by then.
It’s not known now when the flames might reach the townsite.
Parks Canada said evacuation were taking place, beginning at 10 p.m., and going until 3 a.m. Tuesday.
People in Jasper were told to head west on Highway 16/the Yellowhead towards British Columbia.
511 Alberta said Parks Canada has close both Highway 16 east of the Jasper townsite all the way to the park gates near Hinton, and the Highway 93 Icefields Partkway between Kerkeslin Campground and Athabasca Falls due the fire.
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RCMP said eastbound access to Jasper is also closed due to firefighting efforts.
Bring identification, important documents, medication, pets and your emergency kit with you, the emergency alert said.
Anyone needing a ride out of Jasper is asked to go to the Activity Centre, Forest Park Hotel or Maligne Lodge.
The Municipality of Jasper also declared a State of Emergency due to the wildfire.
Earlier in the evening, Parks Canada said fire crews and the Jasper Fire Department were responding to a wildfire around the transfer station, located approximately nine kilometres northeast of the Jasper townsite.
Anyone who was headed west towards B.C. must detour.
RCMP said drivers must detour north through Grande Prairie on Highway 40 or south to Highway 1 through Banff. Where travelling from British Columbia to Alberta, at this time detour south on Highway 1 or north on Highway 2.
— This is a breaking news story. More to come…
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