Residents and business owners in Jasper will be allowed to return home starting this Friday. Officials have announced that access will be available between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. when Highway 16 reopens to traffic.
The decision to lift some restrictions comes as fire danger levels decrease. However, officials caution that the local state of emergency remains in effect, and the town will likely stay on evacuation alert.
Emergency and critical services have been restored to maintain essential operations. Fire crews have reported that 89 percent of the wildfire’s northwest perimeter is now contained. Despite this progress, the fire, which has burned approximately 33,000 hectares, is still considered out of control.
