On Friday, Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland joined other politicians and emergency officials on a tour of the townsite. Before the group departed, Ireland spoke candidly about the jarring experience ahead of him, when he would see the town for the first time since it was devastated by wildfires.
“It has been a really difficult week. And although I am grateful for this opportunity, I approach it with the knowledge that it is going to be, potentially, extremely painful. But I think on behalf of the community, it is important that I go and get a sense of what we have and what we have to work with,” Ireland said at a media event in Hinton on Friday.
“I need to be able to express thoughts and feelings on behalf of our community. In order to do that, I think it's important that I confront that reality.”
Ireland said he anticipated seeing the destroyed and damaged buildings wouldn’t be easy, but that pain will be shared by all of Jasper’s residents when the evacuation order is lifted, and they are finally allowed to return.
For hundreds of people, there is no home to return to.
At the media event, Premier Danielle Smith revealed tragic preliminary figures for the wildfire damage in the townsite. Of the 1113 structures in Jasper, 358 were destroyed, and seven were damaged.
Southern residential neighbourhoods suffered the greatest losses, Ireland said.
Smith stressed that these figures are still subject to change as fire conditions improve in the town and more thorough assessments are completed.
“Most of our residents will have homes to return to. But some of them won’t. There will be a sad mix of people who have lost their homes and their livelihoods,” Ireland said.
“The pain that will be felt almost defies description. It is beyond comprehension.”
Throughout the day, more details will emerge, and residents will be contacted and told if their homes and businesses are still standing, Ireland said.
A government of Alberta spokesperson said the photos and video of the group’s tour through Jasper would be published only after all evacuees have been contacted and informed of damage to their property.
Ireland said that Friday marked a significant turn in the fight to contain the wildfire. Favourable weather conditions have aided firefighters in Jasper, and re-entry possibilities are starting to appear.
“It is a better day. I don’t want to say a brighter day because I want it to get dark and rain like crazy—though no lightning,” Ireland said. "But there is starting to emerge the glimmer of hope that we knew would be there.”
“It feels a bit like a turning point. As devastating as the news is, I am relieved that we are at a point where we can start giving detailed information to our residents.”
