Monsterfire destroys large parts of Jasper
The Canadian city of Jasper, one of the country's popular tourist destinations, is being hit by a severe forest fire. It is now clear that the fire has destroyed large parts of the historic city.
Massive, rapidly spreading forest fires have reportedly destroyed large parts of the historic Canadian city of Jasper according to official reports. Entire streets in the main town of Jasper National Park were reduced to ashes. Videos show smoldering ruins of houses and charred remains of cars.
The fires are still out of control, while firefighters are trying to save as many buildings as possible. No fatalities have been reported, but approximately 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents have evacuated. The mountainous region in the province of Alberta is popular among tourists. Approximately 2.5 million people visit the area annually.
At a press conference on Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith stated that it is still difficult to determine the extent of the damages. However, up to 30-50% of the buildings may have been destroyed. "This is every community's worst nightmare," Smith said.
Pierre Martel, Director of the national firefighting program for Canadian National Parks, stated that the fire was caused by a thunderstorm and escalated late Wednesday evening when it was fanned by strong winds. "It was simply a monster," Martel said. The flames reportedly reached a height of 100 meters and spread rapidly over a vast area.
According to reports from the responsible authority CIFFC, hundreds of fires are burning in Canada. The provinces of British Columbia on the west coast and Alberta to the east are reportedly the most affected. Canada was already hit by forest fires of unprecedented scale last year. Experts warn that due to climate change, fires will occur more frequently and cause more destruction.
Arson suspect arrested
In the northern part of the US state of California, a man was arrested for allegedly causing a major forest fire in the northern part of the state. According to reports from the Butte County authorities, a 42-year-old suspect was taken into custody for allegedly causing the "Park" fire near the city of Chico. The investigators believe the man pushed a burning vehicle down a steep embankment. The vehicle burned completely and the flames quickly spread. The man then joined other people who were fleeing from the fire.
According to ABC News, the suspect was arrested on Thursday morning. If convicted, he would face a life sentence, as he reportedly had two serious prior convictions.
Over 1,100 firefighters fought the flames on Thursday (local time). With an area of over 500 square kilometers, it is the largest fire in California so far this year. Over a dozen larger fires are currently burning in the US West Coast state. The National Interagency Fire Center listed 89 major fires in the US, most of which are in Oregon, the northern neighboring state of California.
The international community has expressed concern over the forest fires in Canada, with the United States of America offering assistance to their neighboring country. The forest fires in British Columbia and Alberta have burned an unprecedented area, stirring fears of even more frequent and destructive fires due to climate change.
The Ontario chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has also offered their assistance to fight the forest fires in Canada, recognizing the need for global cooperation in managing this natural disaster.
