Fire protection and restoration projects

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Fire protection and restoration projects
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Parks Canada is continuing wildfire risk reduction efforts in Jasper National Park this winter.

Reducing the risk of wildfire to a community involves a collaborative approach with layers of protection on the landscape and in town to reduce the risk of wildfire. We know that wildfire risk reduction is top of mind which is why we are providing updates on progress being made to further reduce risk to the town. Parks Canada continues to work in partnership with the Municipality of Jasper on FireSmarting and improving fire resiliency on critical infrastructure. Residents can also contribute by FireSmarting and making changes that are in line with updated Jasper development policies. The FireSmart Home Development Guide has information on how to design or retrofit buildings and yards to provide protection from fire.

Following the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, Parks Canada is adapting its wildfire risk reduction strategy to address ongoing risks posed by the altered landscape. Using an integrated approach, these actions are part of a multi-year risk reduction commitment to increase wildfire resiliency of the Jasper townsite, Outlying Commercial Areas (OCA), critical infrastructure and surrounding provincial lands.

Current wildfire risk reduction activities

Work is expected to continue through the winter, weather permitting. Crews closely monitor conditions such as snow cover, wind speed and air quality to ensure safe operations.

Pine Bungalows area

Crews are currently working around the wastewater treatment plant and Pine Bungalows. Activities include felling trees, limbing branches, and burning debris piles on-site to reduce potential fire hazards.

Whirlpool area

Crews are burning debris piles left from trail-clearing work earlier in the year.

Patricia Lake

Later this winter, Parks Canada will conduct additional fuel reduction work near Patricia Lake. This work supports the broader FireSmart initiative to create defensible spaces and improve emergency response access.

West of town

Wildfire risk reduction west of the town of Jasper remains a top priority for Parks Canada. Building upon decades of work, Parks Canada maintains a 2.5 km area of reduced vegetation directly west of town in two main areas:

  • Community Fireguard: A cleared area of about 50 hectares along Cabin Lake fire road that acts as a line of defence for responders controlling a wildfire.
  • Pyramid Bench: In 2018, Parks Canada reduced the amount of dead and dying trees across more than 300 hectares of mountain pine beetle affected forest on Pyramid Bench. This area connects to FireSmart treated areas around town to create a larger protected area to the west of town.

The goal of fuel reduction and forest-thinning in this area is to slow the spread of wildfire by limiting fire intensity, reducing the chance of spot fires ignited by wind-blown embers and improving fire suppression effectiveness. Regular forest thinning is needed to maintain these areas and sustain the benefits of the fireguard.

Parks Canada is conducting ongoing assessments to identify additional wildfire risk reduction opportunities in the area west of town. This winter, Parks Canada is assessing the possibility of clearing an additional 100 hectares of vegetation around Pyramid Bench and the Community Fireguard. This work aims to enhance the continuity and effectiveness of the fireguard as a control feature west of the community.

Whistlers Mountain

Parks Canada is assessing the north slopes of Whistlers Mountain, southwest of Jasper, for a potential fire control line. Parks Canada is investigating a range of options.

What visitors and residents can expect

  • Operational hours: Work will take place 7 days a week, with the potential for extended hours and nighttime operations.
  • Visible smoke: Pile burning may produce visible smoke near the townsite. These are controlled fires and there is no need to call emergency services to report smoke in the area. People with respiratory ailments are encouraged to contact local health professionals for advice if they have concerns.
  • Noise: Chainsaws and heavy equipment will be in use during operations.

FireSmart principles: What residents and businesses need to know

Wildfire risk reduction is a shared responsibility. Parks Canada requires residents and businesses to follow FireSmart principles to protect their properties, support community safety and reduce the wildfire risk for the Jasper community.

Key actions include:
  • Roofing and deck materials: Replace flammable materials (e.g., cedar shingles and wooden decks) with fire-resistant alternatives.
  • Vegetation management: Create a defensible space around buildings by removing conifer trees close to structures, thinning and limbing dense conifer trees and trimming branches that overhang roofs.
  • Removal of combustible materials: Within 1.5 meters of structures, remove all combustible materials. Reduce and manage vegetation up to 30 meters from structures to limit potential fuel sources. Store firewood and other combustible materials away from buildings and under a spark-resistant cover. Clean gutters and rooftops regularly to remove dry debris.
  • Watering Vegetation: During dry summer conditions, water vegetation near buildings to keep it hydrated and reduce its chance of ignition. 2-5 mm per day is sufficient when applied in the early morning or late evening.

For more information, visit FireSmart Canada.

Stay informed

Join our fire information mailing list to receive the latest information on all things fire.

For more information on the Jasper National Park Fire Management Program, prescribed fire, or wildfire risk reduction projects, please visit parks.canada.ca/jasperfireupdate

For accurate information about the 2024 Jasper Wildfire, click here.

Media enquiries:

Public Relations and Communications
Jasper National Park
Telephone: 780-852-6109
Email: [email protected]

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