Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jasper bus tour registration open, limited to evacuees with damaged homes

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Aug, 2024 04:50 PM
  • Jasper bus tour registration open, limited to evacuees with damaged homes

Wildfire evacuees from Jasper, Alta., whose homes were destroyed or damaged last week, were able to start registering online Friday for bus tours of the burned townsite.

However, when the tours would take place was still undecided.

Officials with Jasper National Park said an out-of-control fire in the area had grown by about 75 square kilometres, to 390 square kilometres, and was set to expand further.

New growth was expected because of hot and dry weather in the forecast.

Thousands of people fled the town and park last week due to the fire, which eventually spread into the community and destroyed one-third of its buildings.

Crews aided by helicopters have been working to extinguish hot spots around the community and near the water treatment plant.

Alberta's Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis told reporters Friday that bus tours would at first only be available for those whose homes were destroyed or damaged. But the tours won't happen until it is safe.

He said those on the bus won't be able to get off in the town, as there is still debris and there's a possibility of smouldering embers in some spots.

"We must maintain the safety of all those entering the park, and we will only proceed when it is safe to do so," Ellis said.

"And, of course, we want to ensure that there is contingency plans in case we run into any unfortunate conditions."

After registering for a tour, Ellis said evacuees would be contacted with more information. Those looking to register can do so on the Alberta government's website.

The number of active wildfires elsewhere in the province had decreased, said Christie Tucker, a spokesperson for Alberta Wildfires.

Tucker said 18 of the 115 fires were considered out of control. Two near Nordegg, Alta., grew substantially on Friday, she said.

Todd Loewen, Alberta's minister of forestry and parks, said Little Red River Cree Nation, about 750 kilometres north of Edmonton, was aiming to welcome back its 5,500 evacuated residents on Monday.

The First Nation, which includes the communities of Garden River, Fox Lake, and John D'Or Prairie, was evacuated July 20 due to an encroaching fire. Garden River was evacuated 10 days before the other communities.

"Co-ordinators will be reaching out to every family that they can to arrange transportation for those who need it," Loewen said.

MORE National ARTICLES

Lack of teamwork with Feds: Eby

Lack of teamwork with Feds: Eby
Premier David Eby says working with the federal government can sometimes feel like beating his head against a wall. Eby is in Halifax for a meeting of Canada's premiers, where he told a news conference that he's disappointed in the lack of teamwork with Ottawa.

Lack of teamwork with Feds: Eby

Man in hospital in Nanaimo stabbing

Man in hospital in Nanaimo stabbing
A 52-year-old Nanaimo man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after an early morning stabbing last Friday. R-C-M-P say it happened along Fitzwilliam Street in downtown Nanaimo, and the victim was not co-operative with investigators. 

Man in hospital in Nanaimo stabbing

B.C. caps international post-secondary student enrolment at 30 per cent of total

B.C. caps international post-secondary student enrolment at 30 per cent of total
In a statement, the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says the new limit is meant to make sure that "international student enrolment doesn't strain an institution's ability "to provide appropriate services." 

B.C. caps international post-secondary student enrolment at 30 per cent of total

Torrential rain causes major flooding in Toronto, parts of GTA

Torrential rain causes major flooding in Toronto, parts of GTA
The rest of the Greater Toronto Area, which was also hit by intense downpours, similarly saw flooding disrupt parts of many communities, with portions of highways awash with water and many cars abandoned. 

Torrential rain causes major flooding in Toronto, parts of GTA

Canada drops $9M on NYC luxury condo for consul general's official residence

Canada drops $9M on NYC luxury condo for consul general's official residence
Canada has spent $9 million for a luxury condo in Manhattan to be used as the official residence for its consul general in New York. Global Affairs Canada says a previous New York City residence purchased in 1961 isn't up to code and doesn't meet the department's standards, but won't say what is being done with it.

Canada drops $9M on NYC luxury condo for consul general's official residence

B.C.'s 'massive error' part of web of inaction that could have saved boy: advocate

B.C.'s 'massive error' part of web of inaction that could have saved boy: advocate
Jennifer Charlesworth says the boy's death is not an outlier, but rather an example of ways the child welfare system has let down children and families in B.C. and across Canada, despite decades of reports making hundreds of recommendations for change.

B.C.'s 'massive error' part of web of inaction that could have saved boy: advocate