Introduction: ‘Monster’ fires may

A fast-spreading wildfire has destroyed more than half of the
historic Canadian town of Jasper, and although firefighters are
trying to save as many buildings as possible,

the blaze remains out of control, officials said.
A fire has destroyed an entire street in the main town of Jasper
National Park in western Canada. Videos show burning rubble

and burned cars where houses once stood.
No deaths were reported, but about 20,000 tourists and 5,000
residents were evacuated from the mountainous region of Alberta

that has been popular with tourists for decades.
At a news conference Thursday, Alberta Premier Daniel Smith tearfully
tried to assess the extent of the damage but said,

“Maybe 30 to 50 per cent of the building is destroyed.”
“There is no denying that this is every society’s worst nightmare,” he said.
Smith became visibly emotional as he described the beauty of the park
and its importance to a community that relies heavily on tourism.

About 2.5 million people visit this park and nearby Banff National Park every year.
Karin Decker, owner of the Marine Resort in Jasper,
was on vacation when she discovered her hotel had burned down.

Photos of the burning building were received on Wednesday evening.
“I was horrified and devastated when I saw this picture,” he told the BBC.
I think it will take a few days for the shock to wear off.

“It is difficult for everyone to understand that we have lost one of our properties,”
he said, adding that he plans to restore the residence.
BBC reporter Wendy Harrell was in Jasper National Park when

the fire broke out on Monday. Since she was in a hurry to get to the city,
she drove all night with her husband and daughter.
“The storm was strong – the sky turned bright red, the wind was blowing,

there was heavy rain and lightning,” he said.
“We were one of the last travelers to see Jasper in all its glory – it takes
us a long time to recover. It’s absolutely

devastating for all of them and it breaks my heart.”
Hundreds of firefighters from around the world helped respond,
but authorities warn the extent of the damage is still unclear.

On Thursday, the focus was on containing the massive flames
that engulfed the city on both sides.

Pierre Martel, director of Parks Canada’s National Fire Protection Program,
said the fire was sparked by a thunderstorm and
fueled by high winds late Wednesday night.

“He was a monster back then,” said Mr. Martell.
“We don’t have a tool in our toolbox to deal with that.”
The flames reached a height of 100 meters in some places and
“covered a huge area in a very short time,” the official said.