Re-entry Announcement
We understand residents want time and space to return to Jasper. The purpose of re-entry is for residents to return. After re-entry, we can all focus on recovery.
By August 16th, 2024 the Incident Management Team plans to have the Re-entry Criteria met. This means Jasper will have the minimum services to be safe for residents to return.
The return date of August 16th is conditional on achieving and maintaining the re-entry criteria. Increased fire activity or unplanned changes to critical services could impact the re-entry date.
Re-entry Criteria must be met for safe return to Jasper
The Jasper Emergency Advisory Committee, a committee of municipal Council, agreed on the re-entry criteria. The Incident Management Team is using the re-entry criteria to guide re-entry progress
Read the progress in each area in the accordions below. Updated daily by 8 p.m.
Last update: Aug. 12, 2024.
Fire threat
Goal: Parks Canada must confirm that the wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the Townsite.
Overall Status: Ongoing
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
The northwest wildfire perimeter is now at 89% contained. Fire crews continue to focus on this area to gain control and secure this perimeter to fully eliminate the threat to the townsite, while patrols for hot spots in the containment area will continue. The wildfire at lakes Edith and Trefoil as well as the Jasper Park Lodge area is now classified as controlled.
| Work | Ongoing | Complete |
| Active fire suppression | X | |
| Protection of critical infrastructure and utilities | X |
Hazard assessment & removal
Goal: Authorities must secure and mitigate hazards in the townsite.
Overall Status: 85% complete
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
Heavy equipment work on private property is only taking place to address an immediate public safety hazard. For example: an unstable chimney, tree or partial wall that could fall over. These are hazards that would otherwise prevent a home owner, or an insurance adjuster from entering the site at all.
| Work | Ongoing | Complete |
| Debris removal on public property | X | |
| Hazard identification | X | |
| Hazard tree removal west of Pyramid Lake Road | X | |
| Hazard tree removal east of Pyramid Lake Road | X | |
| Indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring | X | |
| Perimeter fencing around damaged sites | X |
Emergency services
Goal: Emergency services must be restored to provide a basic level of service.
Status: Complete
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
Emergency services have been completely restored to the townsite.
| Work | Ongoing | Complete |
| Fire services | X | |
| EMS services | X | |
| Police services | X | |
| 911 dispatch services | X |
Critical services
Goal: Critical Services must be restored to provide a basic level of service.
Overall Status: Ongoing
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
Crews continue to work at restoring utility services to the townsite. We are doing water testing, coordinating plans for the healthcare centre, and working with partners to restore electricity, telecommunications and natural gas.
| Work | % Complete |
| Electricity | 95% |
| Natural gas | 85% |
| Telecommunications | 95% |
| Water | 30% |
| Wastewater | 30% |
| Healthcare | 10% |
Critical retail
Goal: Critical Retail must be restored to provide a basic level of service.
Overall Status: Ongoing
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
A limited number of critical retail services (gas stations, grocery stores and pharmacies) are working in designated zones during a limited time. Their objective is to do initial assessments of damage to resume services.
| Work | Ongoing | Complete |
| Grocery stores | X | |
| Gas Stations | X | |
| Pharmacy | X |
Re-entry plan
Goal: A formal Re-entry Plan must be approved.
Status: Ongoing
Last update: Aug. 11, 2024.
The Parks Canada and MOJ Unified Incident Management Team are actively developing plans and guides for the stages of re-entry. More than 40 sub-plans are informing the formal Re-entry Plan.
| Work | Ongoing | Complete |
| Formal Re-entry Plan | X | |
| Welcome guide for essential services | X | |
| Welcome guide for Jasper residents | X |
Questions and answers
Is there a timeline for re-entry of residents?
Date and details about re-entry will be announced on Monday, August 12th. Check back for more details on this announcement.
Is there a plan for re-entry?
Yes! There are 40-sub plans being implemented.
When can residents come back to Jasper?
As soon as re-entry criteria is met and there is no threat of wildfire, we will welcome back residents and business owners.
Why are some businesses allowed and not others?
Only businesses considered “critical retail” are allowed in the Town of Jasper. These are agencies and businesses offering services that meet the most basic of needs (food, electricity, emergency medical attention, drinking water, gasoline). Their objective is to assess the damage and make a plan for resuming services.
What is considered critical retail?
Critical retail is the services required for safe return of residents:
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Banking
- Pharmacy
How did you decide on the criteria of critical retail?
The above critical retail services are the industry standard in emergency management to allow for the safe return of residents.
When will business owners be allowed in?
As soon as re-entry criteria is met and there is no threat of wildfire, business owners and residents will start being allowed back in.
How is town safety being managed?
RCMP are managing the security of town's entrances. Any critical services or critical retail that are allowed into the townsite are registered and monitored by an access pass system.