By Drew Anderson and Matt Simmons Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Last week, the eyes of the world were on Jasper, Alta., as a fast-moving wildfire swept through the Rocky Mountain community, razing historic buildings, homes and businesses. Firefighters on the ground reported meeting walls of flames 100 metres high. More than one-third of the Jasper town site was destroyed, while approximately 325 square kilometres of the national park \u2014 close to three per cent \u2014 have been scorched to date. The town site is now secure, but the out-of-control Jasper wildfire is still burning through forests in the iconic park. As the Jasper disaster continues to unfold, many Canadians are pointing fingers, looking to blame a single source for what happened. Some say it was the mountain pine beetle, which… <\/p>\n
By Drew Anderson and Matt Simmons Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Last week, the eyes of the world were on Jasper, Alta., as a fast-moving wildfire swept through the Rocky Mountain community, razing historic buildings, homes and businesses. Firefighters on the ground reported meeting walls of flames 100 metres high. More than one-third of the Jasper town site was destroyed, while approximately 325 square kilometres of the national park \u2014 close to three per cent \u2014 have been scorched to date. The town site is now secure, but the out-of-control Jasper wildfire is still burning through forests in the iconic park. As the Jasper disaster continues to unfold, many Canadians are pointing fingers, looking to blame a single source for what happened. Some say it was the mountain pine beetle, which... <\/p>\n