Charred concrete walls, scorched metal and ash are what remain of several homes in the Canadian town of Jasper. – Now there are only memories left, says the city’s mayor Richard Ireland, who himself lost his house, to the CBC. Richard has been associated with the house for 67 years. – It has been a difficult week, says Ireland. The remains that remain of the home of the town’s mayor Richard Ireland in the town of Jasper in the province of Alberta in Canada. Photo: Amber Bracken / Reuters/NTB 358 of 1,113 buildings in the city have been destroyed, Jasper National Park reports on Facebook on Friday. The city has special historical significance due to the rich history of settlers, railroad pioneers and tour guides who created a city and park right next to the majestic Rocky Mountains. The fire started after a lightning strike on Monday. It has ravaged large parts of Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains, which is famous for its high mountains, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers. Here they drive through the sea of flames. No one has lost their lives, but 25,000 residents and tourists had to be evacuated suddenly when the fire suddenly spread on Monday. The fire is not yet under control, but it has scorched 360 square kilometers of the national park, including between 30 and 50 percent of the town of Jasper, which normally has around 5,000 inhabitants. Jasper’s mayor, Richard Ireland, looks at the ruins left after the fire that hit Jasper. Photo: Amber Bracken / AP/NTB “Monster” The fire is described as a “monster” by the fire service, with flames that moved quickly and were at times around 100 meters high, writes the BBC. Rainy weather and cooler temperatures in recent hours have provided a respite for the fire brigade. But the authorities state that many of the forest fires are still not under control. And it causes concern that warmer weather is expected again. During a press conference on Thursday, the province’s first minister, Danielle Smith, was moved to tears as she described the fire as the worst nightmare to hit Jasper. – For many generations, this city and the associated park have been a source of pride, says Smith with a voice choked with tears at a press conference. Photo: Amber Bracken / AP/NTB Climate Change All critical infrastructure, including the hospital, emergency services, schools, activity center and treatment plant have been saved, says a post on Facebook. But “a number” of bridges in the city and throughout the national park have been destroyed. – Over 400 foreign firefighters are assisting Canada in the fight against forest fires, announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Several places outside Canada’s borders are also affected by fires. In the US, over 3,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the state of California due to fire. There are also ongoing forest fires in Oregon, Montana and Utah. NASA creates overview maps of ongoing forest fires, based on satellite images. Illustration: screenshot / NASA FIRMS Climate change, which contributes to heatwaves and droughts, is linked to ever fiercer and more extensive fires. The authorities fear a repeat of last year’s horror summer when 15 million hectares were burnt down and over 200,000 people had to be evacuated. Published 27/07/2024, at 10.28
ttn-69
Large parts of the historic town of Jasper have been burned down – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
