UPDATE – JULY 24 – 7:30 a.m.: A reception centre has also been set up in Edmonton at Kennedale Site Building #2 located at 12814 58 Street.
An evacuation order has been issued for the Town of Jasper and Jasper National Park due to multiple wildfires burning in the area.
The evacuation order was issued at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22, instructing residents to gather pets, identification, important documents, medications and emergency kits and begin evacuating. Officials say most Jasper residents were able to evacuate west on Highway 16, while small groups of vehicles were escorted east along Highway 16 when roadside fire conditions allowed for it.
Officials say reception centres have been set up in both Grande Prairie and Calgary to offer supports to evacuees, but are encouraging drivers to stop at safe rest points along the way. Evacuees are being advised that the Valemount Community Hall has limited resources and cannot accept any more evacuees.
The reception centre in Grande Prairie is located at the Bonnets Energy Centre, at 10017 99 Avenue.
The reception centre in Calgary is located at Shouldice Athletic Park, at 1515 Home Road NW.
Evacuees heading to Grande Prairie are being instructed to take Highway 16 west to Prince George, proceed north via Highway 97, then south on Highway 2 and back east to Grande Prairie via Highway 43.
Evacuees heading to Calgary are being instructed to take Highway 5 south to Kamloops, then proceed east on Highway 1 to Calgary.
Officials say updates will be posted to the Jasper National Park Facebook page, the Town of Jasper Facebook page, the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) Facebook page, the Municipality of Jasper website and the Emergency Alert section of the Government of Alberta website as they become available.
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