Stable power returns to Jasper as Chetamon wildfire reaches 6K hectares

Stable power has returned to the Municipality of Jasper, as the Chetamon wildfire continues to burn.

On Wednesday morning, ATCO said crews “switched the town of Jasper from the temporary generator system over to the transmission system.”

The result has been stable power ever since.

Outlying communities are gradually being moved back on the transmission system.

“Parks Canada appreciates the effective collaboration with the Municipality of Jasper and ATCO Electric, and recognizes the great lengths that all responding personnel have gone to restore regular power and services to the community of Jasper,” Parks Canada said in a statement.

This comes as the size of the lightning-sparked Chetamon blaze reached 6,000 hectares.

Map of Chetamon wildfire on Sept. 14, 2022. (Credit: Parks Canada)

Parks Canada says there is smouldering and creeping surface fire around the perimeter of the blaze, with many areas of the lower slopes now contained.

READ MORE:

• Cooler weather helping firefighters contain Chetamon wildfire 
• ‘Progress being made’ on Chetamon wildfire burning in Jasper

On the north end, Parks Canada says there are difficult-to-reach hot spots. At the south, crews are working to extinguish hot spots in sometimes challenging terrain, while others are patrolling the perimeter.

“With effective firefighting efforts preventing significant wildfire spread and the cooler forecast this week, proactive protection measures south of the Chetamon wildfire are no longer needed,” the parks authority said. “Contractors are dismantling the high-volume sprinkler system on Pyramid Bench on Wednesday.”

There are still 96 firefighters and five helicopters actively fighting the wildfire.

No communities are threatened by the fire.