Checkpoints lifted as Jasper makes progress on path back to normal

The people of Jasper are making progress on getting back to normal after being allowed back to their town, cleaning their homes, reuniting with neighbours and seeking insurance information.

“I’m still standing,” said Jasper Mayor Richard in an update in nearby Hinton on Monday. “I am in the same spot as so many of my residents, but I’ve had perhaps a little longer to process it. I’ve had an opportunity to visit it earlier.

“I know so many people who have suffered and in some cases, greater losses, people who have lost their family homes, who have lost their family business. It’s so tragic, and so I’m there to do what I can to support my community, generally and those individuals who might call on me for support. That’s that’s where I’m at.”

Friday was the first day residents were allowed back after a wildfire forced the evacuation of the entire community, which eventually lost close to one third of its structures in the blaze.

“We went to check our place out, but it’s smoky and ashy, and everything needs to be cleaned and gutted,” said Jasper resident Dave Miller. “But who cares? Our place is up. Just look around you, it’s crazy. We’re thankful that we have a place but it’s hard to grasp what’s even going on.”

CityNews spoke to other Jasper residents who had not seen their homes yet.

“It’s the same feeling as when we went to the emergency centre. It’s hard,” said Isis Gilzene.

But every resident shared feelings of positivity.

“Hearing everything before we actually had a chance to come and see it, it just seemed like it was total chaos, everything was gone,” said business owner Corbin Gulevich. “But we got here, all of that side is still there. It’s mainly hit that side and I’m sure we’re gonna recover.”

Over the weekend, Parks Canada announced the status of the Jasper Wildfire Complex had changed from out-of-control to being held, and an evacuation alert that advised returning residents to be ready to flee again on an hour’s notice was dropped.

Christine Nadon, incident commander for the Municipality of Jasper, said that the checkpoints in Jasper have been lifted as of 5 a.m., but RCMP are still patrolling to ensure visitors aren’t entering the town.

“We still have a very strong RCMP presence. They were at those checkpoints. They are now in town,” she said. “And if people are just driving around looking like they don’t really belong there, you can expect to be … kindly asked to have a chat with an RCMP member and be directed to move on.”

Ireland says re-entry to the fire-ravaged town has caused a range of emotions for residents, but adds that many who saw the notice understand.

“This incident — catastrophe for our town, has been recognized by so many people across Canada as just that, and I will say that the feedback that we have got from Canadians indicates that they fully understand that we are not in a position to welcome them now,” he said.

“People respect that our community is suffering. They respect that we need time to recover, and they understand as well that the visitor economy, unlike other industries, is so highly dependent on a labour force, and that if we don’t first look after our residents who provide that labour force, the visitors will not be able to come back.”

He says with this understanding of the situation, when the town is ready to welcome them into town, “they will come back.”

The town says that on the first day of re-entry, more than 500 people visited the support centre at Commemoration Park, 350 people visited the insurance tent, 120 appliances were picked and ATCO Gas completed 335 service re-lights. As of Monday, around 650 homes have been re-lit.

Nadon says those numbers have been steadily dropping, as some residents may be further away from the town and haven’t arrived yet or aren’t ready to turn for various reasons.

This is why the reentry services will extend until Aug. 29.

“That’s not to say that it couldn’t be modified or continued after that. So residents out there that still haven’t returned, don’t worry, we got you. We will stay open, and we will get you those resources when you get there,” she said.

Jasper National Park remains closed, although Parks Canada said Sunday that Miette Hot Springs, a popular feature inside the park, had reopened to the public. Jasper residents can access it for free.

“Even amidst the profound grief and staggering loss experienced by so many, the community’s familiar pulse is unmistakable. Neighbours and friends, who had been apart for weeks, are reuniting with heartfelt embraces and teary smiles,” a post on the town’s Facebook page said on Saturday. 

“Even in the darkest times, the pulse of community — rooted in empathy and solidarity — will create the conditions for healing.”

An estimated $283 million in property value was wiped out in the town.

Parks Canada noted over the weekend that bears have been spotted in Jasper. The agency noted at least two females with two cubs each are searching for food, and if residents spot them they should report them to Parks Canada Dispatch.

–With files from Darcy Ropchan