17-07-2025
Jasper wildfire review recommends municipal response improvements
The Municipality of Jasper has released a report offering about two dozen recommendations to improve emergency response in various ways after last year's wildfire, including several with a focus on the gaps in interagency co-ordination.
Among them was the need to better define jurisdictional boundaries between the municipal and Alberta governments, Parks Canada and provincial agencies like Alberta Wildfire.
Responding to emergencies, like wildfires, is typically a provincial duty, but Jasper falls within federal jurisdiction because it's in a national park. Officials from the three levels of government previously expressed how navigating those jurisdictions complicated the recovery effort.
The report, prepared by consultants hired by the municipality, was released nearly a full year after a large wildfire reached the Jasper townsite, about 315 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.
The fire destroyed 358 structures in Jasper — about one-third of its total structures. Firefighter Morgan Kitchen was killed after being struck by a falling tree.
Its purpose is not to assign blame, the report states.
