A Canadian resort town has been devastated by a raging wildfire that officials say may have destroyed 30 to 50% of the municipality. The fires in Jasper National Park, which were sparked earlier this week, forced about 25,000 people to flee the area earlier this week, officials said on Thursday. Some 400 firefighters from around the world are on their way to Canada to help battle the flames.
Officials warned that there are only limited details currently available on which structures were damaged, and that the focus is on containing the flames and preventing further destruction. Still, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said during an emotional press conference that the township of Jasper will require a "significant rebuild". Jasper's mayor, Richard Ireland, said that the wildfire has "ravaged our small, tight-knit mountain community".
"To all of the responders on the ground in the town [and] in our home, words cannot express the admiration and the gratitude I have for your professionalism, dedication and their unyielding efforts." He said his town is still coming to term with the wildfire. Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies.
The famous Rockies resort town of Jasper has about 5,000 residents, but the park had almost 2.5 million visitors last year. Hundreds of firefighters are flying in to help with the efforts, including 100 firefighters from Jalisco, Mexico, 200 from South Africa and 100 from Australia and New Zealand.
Canadian Prime Ministe.