Limited access to Highway 16 through Jasper National Park is opened at a limited capacity for commercial traffic.
Parks Canada announced yesterday, officials will be facilitating access for commercial vehicles on a limited basis between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The RCMP is controlling access in the park and will have staffed checkpoints on Highway 16 in both directions.
“Commercial vehicles are defined as trucks, tractors, trailers, or any combination thereof, with a registered gross vehicle weight exceeding 11,794 kilograms,” the update from Parks Canada reads. “These times are subject to change without notice and are dependent on fire behaviour and operational needs. We are entering a period of hotter drier weather, and the fire is anticipated to become more dynamic.”
Although limited access to the highway has been announced, it is not guaranteed, and commercial drivers are being advised to anticipate delays. As well, in the coming days Jasper evacuees in British Columbia will have a chance to be escorted back to Alberta on Highway 16, officials say more information will be released when it is available.
As of Wednesday night, the Jasper Wildfire Complex is still classified as out of control, with warmer temperatures and winds resulting in the fire spreading on the south end.
“In some areas, trees occasionally candled, meaning fire activity moved from surface to tree top.”
Officials say there is still a very present risk to the national park and the Town of Jasper, but they have used the days of lower fire activity to prepare and put measures in place to protect the community. However, with the warmer temperatures crews are anticipating that they could see extreme fire behaviour as soon as tomorrow.
“Jasper residents should be aware of the possibility of intense fire and spread. Our top priority remains protecting the community and critical infrastructure and every effort will be made to prevent further impacts from the fire.”
When it was safe to do so yesterday crews were using helicopters to map the wildfire perimeter more accurately. The perimeter is made up of the furthest area burned and not what is currently burning. Inside the estimated perimeter there will be areas that will be completely or partially burned and areas that were not burned at all.
Over the past week resources from BC Wildfire Services, Alberta Wildfire, Ontario, Yukon and the Northwest Territories have responded to the incident. Officials estimate to date over 100 organizations have supported or contributed to the wildfire response in Jasper.
