Edmonton extends reception centre for Jasper evacuees until Sept. 3

The City of Edmonton’s reception centre for Jasper residents, the Rapid Emergency Support Terminal (REST), will remain open until at least Sept. 3.

The extension was granted “at the request of the Municipality of Jasper,” the city said in a news release.

Hotel rooms for evacuees in Edmonton have been extended to Sept. 3 as a result.

Jasper residents were allowed back in town last week after a wildfire forced the evacuation of the entire community.

READ MORE: Checkpoints lifted as Jasper makes progress on path back to normal

Jasper is providing transportation to evacuees returning home, with buses scheduled to leave Edmonton Wednesday (including pets), Thursday and Friday.

The Jasper Wildfire Complex is no longer out of control, officials say, and an evacuation alert that advised returning residents to be ready to flee again on an hour’s notice has been dropped.

The REST location at Edmonton’s Kennedale Building #2 will remain open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Since July 23, the City of Edmonton says it’s registered more than 2,700 evacuees from Jasper and Jasper National Park.

A support terminal differed from an evacuation centre in that individuals are directed to hotels for accommodation, rather than remaining on site.