Wildfire reaches resort town of Jasper as Alberta battles over 170 blazes
Washington PostJul 20
Canada: Wildfire Tears Through National Park Near Rockies
Above: Vehicles pass by as smoke rises from the Chetamon Mountain wildfire on September 5, 2022 in Jasper National Park in Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Image copyright: Lance King/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
30-50% of all structures in the Canadian town of Jasper, Alberta, are believed to have been destroyed by a wildfire that is estimated to be 36K hectares (89K acres) in size. The flames reached the town on Wednesday, and it could take weeks to tame the fire, officials say.
The fires have forced evacuations of nearly 25K who live in Jasper, which resides in UNESCO-designated Jasper National Park. Evacuees headed westward to the province of British Columbia were told to turn around as wildfires in that province continue to rage.
The Spin
Left narrative
Ever since Canada's record-breaking wildfire season last summer, Premier Smith has refused to link the events to climate change, as she leads an incredibly oil-rich province. The destruction that climate change can bring is undeniable, and Alberta can no longer be complacent in the face of such drastic consequences of our polluting ways. These fires can't be allowed to become a regular occurrence.
Right narrative
While cynical activists will surely take advantage of these fires, the truth is much more complicated. Wildfires are a naturally occurring and healthy part of a prairie ecosystem, but Parks Canada has adopted a dangerous policy of total forest preservation that puts more lives at risk, as it eschews holistic practices like controlled burns. Ironically, "green" policies are responsible for this mess.