Red Cross Fire Donations Matched by Ottawa and Alberta, Jasper Residents Survey Damage on Map

July 28, 2024 TruthUSA

Residents of Jasper are learning more details about wildfire damage to their evacuated town. The Alberta and federal governments have announced that they will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross for wildfire relief in the province.

In a joint news release, Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan and Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis stated that every $1 donated will be matched, making it $3 to support those most impacted by wildfires in Jasper and across the province. This donation-matching initiative will last for 30 days, starting from when the 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal opened on July 25.

Parks Canada has estimated that 30% of Jasper township’s structures were damaged by the wildfire that continues to burn out-of-control in the national park. A map showing which properties were affected was released on July 27 afternoon, providing residents with a clearer picture of the damage. However, a town official cautioned that the map is based on what is visible from the street.

On July 27, a Parks Canada official stated that the blaze is the largest wildfire Jasper National Park has experienced in the last 100 years. The agency anticipates it will become more active as temperatures rise in the coming days.