Jasper evacuees arrive in Calgary, relieved but unsure about resort town's future
CBC
After a long, winding journey out of Jasper and through a series of small B.C. communities, dozens of evacuees arrived in Calgary on Wednesday, relieved to be away from the wildfire danger but unsure about the resort town's future.
Tim Strozen was camping in the area with his wife and two daughters when he noticed that people in the townsite were filling up their cars with gas.
"That was our indication that maybe we should just pack up and leave," Strozen said. "And we're so glad we did because then everyone was rushed getting out."
After the order to leave Jasper was issued, thousands of vehicles were gridlocked on roads leading to safety. Many were forced west into British Columbia, then later redirected east toward Alberta.
Strozen said he feels "horrible" for people who were stuck in the massive, early morning exit out of Jasper.
"And then seeing the pictures with the fires coming closer, that would be a horrible situation to be in, for sure."
Other evacuees like Maryn Longley, a Jasper resident, described her experience as a "wild ride" that began with seeing a red sky and "ash falling from the sky as I was walking home from work."
Longley was caught up in the gridlock and said it took her "two or three hours just to get out of town."
"I just wanted to get out of there," Longley said. "I'm very antsy when it comes to traffic jams and stuff like that."
As Longley spoke to CBC News, she was waiting to be picked up by her dad and sister, who would take her to Edmonton.
Longley said she's now taking things "day-by-day" and trying not to "stress about anything too much."
In a media statement, the City of Calgary said that as of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, 108 evacuees had registered in the city, almost evenly split between Jasper residents and tourists.
"We are able to help people find shelter and additional supports they may need as the firefight continues," the statement read. "Currently, there have been no further requests for support."
As of Wednesday, the two wildfires burning north and south of Jasper have moved within five kilometres and eight kilometres of the townsite.
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