Jasper Fire Devastates Town as Fires Burn Throughout Canada

30% of buildings in the town of Jasper, Alberta have been destroyed in one of many wildfires burning throughout Canada.

Transcript

00:00Firefighters work to put out the smoldering remains of burned down buildings in the town

00:10site of Jasper in western Canada.

00:13Over 30% of buildings here are destroyed after wildfires tore through the historic town and

00:20the nearby Jasper National Park.

00:23Local officials and townspeople gathered to assess the damage and process their loss.

00:30I've seen memories of life and now it's just memories of family and fire.

00:49Wildfires continue to blaze throughout Canada.

00:52The roughly 175 active wildfires in Alberta province alone have already burned through

00:57an area the size of New Jersey.

01:00But it's the fire in Jasper that has drawn most concern, due to the destruction it's

01:05brought to a historic town and nearby national park.

01:10Alberta Premier Danielle Smith held back tears when discussing the devastation.

01:15For many generations, the town of Jasper and the parks surrounding it have been a source

01:22of pride with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

01:36And to those in Alberta and around the world who have experienced the magic of Jasper,

01:45the magic is not lost and it never will be.

01:50Jasper residents are among the 17,000 people in Alberta who have had to evacuate.

01:57If I break down now, what will I do?

02:00I will just sit and cry and nothing's going to change, right?

02:06Some traveled over 400 kilometers to Calgary only to be turned away, leading to an apology

02:11from the mayor.

02:13To those evacuees who did not immediately receive assistance, I apologize sincerely.

02:18I can only imagine what it must have been like to have to rapidly evacuate and then

02:22drive 12 to 15 hours to show up here and be met with closed doors.

02:31More than 50 of the active wildfires in Alberta are considered out of control.

02:362023 saw more wildfire damage than any other year in Canadian history.

02:42With more than half this year's summer still ahead, that record already looks under threat.

02:47Dolphine Chun and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.