Wildfire that roared into Jasper was a wall of fast-moving flame, says fire official

One of two wildfires threatening Jasper, Alta., raged into the historic resort town Wednesday, consuming homes and businesses in a wall of flame. 

The wildfire, whipped into a firestorm by intense winds, burned with such intensity and speed that plumes of ash and flames shot hundreds of feet into the air. 

James Eastham, a Parks Canada wildfire information officer, said firefighters were faced with a wall of flame that proved impossible to contain. 

“Fire behaviour was intense,” Eastham said in an interview Wednesday night after the flames entered the townsite.

“Fire crews were witnessing 300- to 400-foot flames in a fully involved, continuous crown fire and a fire spread rate of approximately 15 metres per minute.”

The extent of the damage is unknown but park officials say numerous buildings in the historic townsite in the heart of Jasper National Park have been lost. 

Images and videos shared overnight on social media showed multiple buildings, including homes and businesses, consumed. 

Park officials have reported “significant loss” in Jasper but have not detailed the damages to specific buildings or neighbourhoods. 

The fire is among at least 182 wildfires burning across the province. 

Premier Danielle Smith and emergency officials with the province will provide an update on the wildfire situation across the province at 11 a.m. MT Thursday. Watch the news conference here.

Crews were fighting to save as many buildings as possible, officials said. 

Critical infrastructure, including the wastewater treatment plant, the hospital, communications facilities and the Trans Mountain Pipeline were among the buildings under threat. 

The fight has been a battle waged on numerous fronts. 

Jasper was under threat from the north and south, and mandatory evacuation orders were issued Monday as the fires flared, forcing as many as 25,000 residents and visitors out. 

The northern fire was spotted five kilometres from Jasper earlier Wednesday but continued to draw closer to the town. The southern fire had been reported eight kilometres out from town but within a matter of hours, it had reached the outskirts of the community. 

The situation only grew worse as the hours passed.  

WATCH | Firefighters in Jasper facing wall of flames: 

Firefighters in Jasper…