They keep giving battle with giant flames firefighters in Canada, but falling temperatures and rain are expected to help.
A fire has destroyed part of the western Canadian resort town of Jasper, authorities said.
The city is located in the heart of Jasper National Park, the largest in Canada, known for its mountains, lakes and waterfalls, which attract 2.5 million visitors every year.
30-50% of the city was destroyed by this fire which is still considered “out of control” and has already burned over 360,000 acres.
Rain just after midnight
“Temperatures dropped and precipitation began shortly after midnight,” Parcs Canada said in its latest update.
That rain is expected to halt the fire’s advance within the next 72 hours, said the agency, which manages Canada’s national parks and coordinates the fight against wildfires in the region.
The military is expected to send reinforcements, while 400 foreign firefighters from New Zealand, Mexico and South Africa will travel to the area.
There are no deaths or injuries
There were no deaths or injuries in the fire. The 25,000 residents and tourists who were in the area were evacuated on Monday night into Tuesday as the fire grew rapidly, catching firefighters by surprise.
The fire was sparked by lightning on Monday afternoon, according to Parcs Canada, which reported flames reaching more than 100 metres (330 feet) high. Meanwhile, gusty winds blowing through the area on Wednesday afternoon caused the fire to spread 5 kilometres (3 miles) in less than 30 minutes, said Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety and emergency services.
It will take “weeks” to control the fire, according to authorities.
Fires have erupted in recent days after lightning struck drought-hit western Canada, with more than 170 fires still burning in the province of Alberta.
British Columbia, which borders Alberta, is also being hit by wildfires, with more than 400 active fires now burning, more than half of which are burning out of control. In the past 24 hours, 56 fires have been recorded.
Sources: AMPE, AFP, Reuters