'We will rebuild': A look inside the wildfire devastation in Jasper

During a tour of the town with Mayor Richard Ireland, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and other dignitaries on Friday, the indiscriminate nature of the wildfires could be seen everywhere, with Jasper National Park's glorious mountain peaks overlooking the devastation.

Richard Ireland's eyes well up with tears as he gazes in silence towards his home and sees memories of a lifetime burnt to ashes.

The mayor of Jasper then leans over what remains of the small, cosy home he grew up in — a piece of a concrete wall — and says all he can think about is a framed photograph that was taken after his family moved in when he was two years old, lost somewhere in the rubble.

"We grew up here … a family of five kids and our parents, and just about always at least one grandparent was living with us," the 69-year-old says on Friday during his first visit to where his home once stood in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town before a wildfire burned it down.

"That's the way life was lived in those days … extended family all under one roof. My home was full of memories," he says while holding back tears, his lips quivering.

His siblings moved away from his home after and more memories of his own children growing up in the home were formed. He feels sad for the hundreds of photographs of those moments now also burnt to ashes.

But although the ashes of his home lie below his feet, Ireland says he's glad his garage still stands, with his grandchildren's toys inside.

"We will rebuild," he says.