Rebel News Chief Editor Sheila Gunn Reid is on the road to Jasper, Alberta after a devastating fire decimated the mountainous resort town. The total area of Jasper burned or partially burned is over 360 square kilometres.

"I'm just west of Hinton, Alberta. What you see behind me is a police checkpoint preventing people from going into Jasper National Park because the National Park has out of control wildfires burning within it," said Gunn Reid. Jasper National Park remains closed to the public and RCMP are not allowing unauthorized access to the town.

Parks Canada estimates that 30% of the town’s infrastructure was damaged by last week’s blaze that could burn for months, according to one official.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said 358 structures were destroyed, but no critical infrastructure such as schools and hospitals were damaged. Among the buildings destroyed by the blaze includes the historic 96-year-old St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says "it's simply not true" that federal authorities didn't use all of their resources to protect Jasper from fires.
He blames climate change for "aggressive forest fires" and praises efforts to save much of the town.https://t.co/FXXjpLVaDi pic.twitter.com/rUdoEI3ofY

— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) July 29, 2024

Now, I'm here to do this journalism on the cheap. We took my Jeep, travel trailer and we're staying at a campsite up the road.

We're on the ground to get answers. Why did this happen? Why was it so bad and what could have been done differently?

But if you're like me and you feel compelled to help the people and the businesses of Jasper, Alberta, please consider making a donation at HelpJasper.ca.

That's our crowdfund where 100% of the proceeds will go to an on the ground charity working with the evacuees and businesses of Jasper.