Jasper: Seeing the Aftermath of the Fire

Jasper before the wild fire. Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels

As we got closer to Jasper, I started thinking about the wildfires that had devastated the area in the summer of 2024. The last time we had visited the area was in 2022, and it had been a bustling outdoor lover’s paradise.

I knew about the fire, of course. I had seen the pictures, heard the news reports, and read the stories. I knew that much of the town had been evacuated and that hundreds of homes and businesses had been destroyed.

But somehow, I still wasn't prepared for what I was about to see.

The 2024 Jasper wildfire began on July 22 after lightning strikes started several fires around the national park. Conditions were incredibly dry, and strong winds caused the fires to spread quickly. The separate fires eventually joined together, creating one enormous fire complex.

More than 20,000 people were evacuated from Jasper and the surrounding park. Just two days later, on July 24, the fire reached the town itself, with burning embers being carried kilometres ahead of the main fire front.

In the end, about 32,700 hectares burned. While firefighters managed to save about 70% of the structures in the town, 30% were destroyed. Homes, apartment buildings, businesses, hotels, churches and other buildings were lost, and hundreds of families lost their homes.

Knowing all of that is one thing. Driving into Jasper and seeing it is something else entirely.

A Forest of Sticks

As we drove toward Jasper, the first thing that really hit me was the landscape. Forest after forest had simply disappeared.

Where there had once been thick stands of evergreens, there were now blackened tree trunks sticking out of the ground. Some areas looked almost as though someone had gone through with a giant saw and cut everything down, leaving only the bare remains behind. It was hard to take in.

This is Jasper, a place that has always seemed to be synonymous with the outdoors. Mountains, forests, wildlife, hiking trails and endless opportunities to explore have always been part of what makes this area so special. Now, in so many places, there was just burnt wood.

I knew we would see the effects of the fire. I expected that. I just hadn't expected the devastation to stretch so far.

And yet, as we drove through the area, there were also reminders that the fire had not destroyed everything. There were forests that remained untouched, beautiful mountain scenery was still there, and lakes still reflected the mountains. Jasper itself was very much alive.

Jasper Is Rebuilding

Once we were in town, another side of the story became apparent. There was construction happening everywhere.

Some of the empty spaces where buildings had once stood were now active construction sites. Temporary buildings and housing have been brought in to help accommodate people who lost their homes, and businesses that lost their locations have been operating from temporary spaces while they work toward rebuilding.

More than 500 interim housing units have been provided for people displaced by the fire, and hundreds of residents are still living in temporary accommodations while permanent homes are rebuilt.

But Jasper isn't a ghost town. Far from it.

The shops are open, restaurants are serving customers, hotels are welcoming guests, and people are going about their daily lives. There is a feeling that the town is determined to move forward.

There Are Still Places to Explore

Thankfully, the fire didn't take away everything that makes Jasper so special. We were still able to enjoy the spectacular scenery and make our way to beautiful Maligne Lake.

One of the things I had really been looking forward to on this trip, though, was hiking Maligne Canyon. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen.

The canyon was badly affected by the wildfire and remains closed while Parks Canada works through the considerable amount of assessment and rehabilitation needed to make it safe again.

It was disappointing, especially because I had been looking forward to seeing it again. But after seeing the damage throughout the area, it was easy to understand why some places will take much longer to reopen.

Where Did All the Wildlife Go?

Another thing I noticed during our time in Jasper was the lack of wildlife. We did see some, but not nearly as much as we had on previous visits.

On the outskirts of town, we saw one elk. On earlier trips to Jasper, it wasn't unusual to come across herds of elk, particularly around the townsite. Then, at Maligne Lake, we were lucky enough to see a beautiful moose.

But that was about it.

Of course, the animals didn't simply disappear. Parks Canada says that many of the larger animals were able to flee the fire. Bears, wolves, elk and moose can move away from an advancing fire, while smaller animals may shelter underground or seek refuge around lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Some animals undoubtedly died, but many survived. And now the landscape is changing again.

New grasses and plants can appear surprisingly quickly after a fire. Fireweed, aspen and shrubs are among the early plants to return, creating new food sources for animals such as elk and moose.

So perhaps what we were seeing wasn't the absence of wildlife so much as wildlife adapting to a very different landscape.

It will take time. The forest won't look like the forest we remember for many years, but nature is already beginning to work on what comes next.

Jasper Is Still Here

The 2024 wildfire changed Jasper forever. But it didn't destroy Jasper.

The town is open, the businesses are welcoming visitors, and the park is continuing to reopen areas as they can be made safe. There are still some fire-affected areas, including Maligne Canyon, that remain closed, but so much of Jasper is once again available for visitors to enjoy.

They want visitors back. Not just because Jasper is a beautiful place to visit, but because tourism is an important part of helping this community recover.

Image is AI created

So if you've been wondering whether it's time to return to Jasper, the answer is yes.

Go. See the mountains, visit the lakes, have lunch in town, stay in a hotel, browse the shops and stop for coffee. Spend some money with the people who are working so hard to rebuild their community.

Jasper is still standing. It's scarred, it's rebuilding, and it has a long way to go.

But it's open for business, and it is ready to welcome us back.

Please note: All images are from Parks Canada unless otherwise stated.