It was the combination of fire plus tropical force winds which caused it.
A lethal combination that made an already devastating situation even worse.
“The Storm was Ferocious”
A BBC journalist reported that the skies went dark.
“There were whipping winds, fierce rain and lightning,” she said. It got so bad that even those fighting the flames had to evacuate if they didn’t have breathing equipment.
Historic Town
It is a beautiful, historic town in which many famous people have stayed.
Visitors have included Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. But now it sits in tatters, still uninhabited, days after the fire started.
A Wall of Flame
The power of the wind caused a wall of flame more than 300 feet high to spring up.
This terrifying prospect destroyed hundreds of buildings, more than a quarter of the town’s infractructure.
Jasper Represented Canada
The town of Jasper and its surrounding mountains were an image that represented Canada, nationally and internationally.
So the scale of the tragedy is even greater than the buildings and the wildlife destroyed, it is also the loss of a town that meant so much to so many.
“There are no Words”
Ryan Jespersen, a Canadian talk show host, verbalized it when he said “There are no words.”
Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith, said “This is the worst nightmare for any community.”
Cooling a Little
There have been a few days of cooler weather with some rain.
This has offered hope and a chance to fight back against the fire and gain some ground. However, the hot weather is expected to resume, causing the fire to increase again.
Most Beautiful Scenery in the World
The town of Jasper and its surrounding national park has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
“Our grandparents visited to experience the majesty of this place, with its mountains and lakes and meadows. They took our parents, who then took us to this special spot that they’d spent time in as children,” said Danielle Smith.
The Power of Nature
The Mayor of Jasper, Richard Ireland, spoke to reporters.
“The nature of this fire was such that it humbled the humans on the ground,” he said. He believes that nothing could have stopped it, even with all the preparations that were in place.
Patience and Grace
The website Tourism Jasper has asked for patience and grace as the townspeople navigate this loss and the destruction to their livelihoods.
But they are unbowed and are determined to come back swinging. “Our mountains have stood tall for millions of years, and Jasper will stand tall through this.”
