The town of Jasper in Canada has been left devastated by a fierce wildfire that swept through, melting cars to the road and turning homes to ash. The first images of the destruction have emerged, showing the extent of the damage caused by the 100m firewall that tore through the town late on Wednesday.
Authorities have reported that 358 of the 1,113 structures in town have been destroyed, but critical infrastructure such as the hospital, library, and firehall were protected. The mayor of Jasper, Richard Ireland, returned to find his home of 67 years reduced to a few charred cement blocks, reflecting on the memories lost to the flames.
New images show the extraordinary damage in the famous tourist town, with melted metal from cars dripping across the road and twisted remains of vehicles piled on top of each other. Hotels, a church, and many homes were destroyed in the blaze.
As firefighters work to contain the remaining hotspots, they are cautious about confirming the full extent of the damage at this stage. The town is now facing the challenge of rebuilding and restoring the pristine ecology that makes Jasper National Park a pride of Canada.
With winds expected to pick up and hot, dry weather forecasted to return, the town faces further challenges as it begins the long road to recovery. Meanwhile, there are currently 48 wildfires burning “out of control” around the Alberta province, adding to the ongoing challenges faced by the region.
