- author, Rachel Luke
- Role, bbc news
Rain and cooler temperatures are providing some respite to firefighters battling a fast-moving blaze that may have destroyed half of the historic Canadian town of Jasper.
Jasper National Park said good weather will help suppress the fires over the next 72 hours.
About 10-15 millimeters (0.4-0.5 inches) of rain fell in the national park Thursday night, giving crews an opportunity to suppress the wildfires and reduce their spread.
But officials said the fire was still out of control and rescue efforts were likely to be temporary, with warmer and drier weather expected.
Park officials said in an update that fire activity had “diminished significantly” as the weather changed.
Fires in an Alberta town have leveled entire streets, with footage released Wednesday showing smoking rubble where homes once stood.
Jasper National Park reported late Thursday local time that the most severe structural damage from the fire was on the west side of town.
Firefighters have prevented “significant” damage to the east side of the town.
Officials confirmed critical infrastructure was protected, including hospitals, public schools and activity centers, and wastewater treatment plants.
The park said “some homes and businesses have been lost,” as well as some bridges in the town and throughout the park itself.
About 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) of land have been affected so far.
No casualties have been reported so far and officials praised the early evacuation efforts.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith burst into tears as she recounted the details of the damage at a news conference on Thursday but said “probably 30 to 50 per cent” of the buildings were destroyed.
Ms. Smith became visibly emotional as she described the park's beauty and its importance to a community that relies largely on tourism. About 2.5 million people visit the park and nearby Banff National Park each year.
Earlier this week, more than 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents fled the park and its town, a popular tourist attraction.
Hundreds of firefighters from around the world have been deployed to assist with the response.
Officials on Thursday described the fire as a “monster”, with flames reaching 100m (328ft) in some places and spreading rapidly.
High winds pushed the lightning-fueled blaze 5 kilometers (3 miles) into the town in less than 30 minutes on Wednesday.
In British Columbia, which borders Alberta to the west, more than 400 wildfires are burning and dozens of evacuation orders have been issued.
In the United States, more than 3,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in California as park fires continue to get out of control.
Oregon, Montana and Utah also continue to deal with wildfires.
The total number of fires around the world has decreased over the past two decades.
But researchers say climate change could bring more lightning to forests in the Earth's north, increasing the risk of wildfires.
