Jasper latest: Fire behaviour increasing with hotter weather

The Jasper wildfire remains out of control and fire behaviour is increasing on Wednesday as the weather gets hotter.

In a Wednesday morning media update, Parks Canada said 750 personnel continue to fight the wildfire and that the top priority is "reducing the remaining risk it poses to the community."

"As conditions become hotter and drier, more smoke may become visible in the region," Parks Canada said.

• Complete coverage of the 2024 Alberta wildfire season

"Operations are strategically focusing efforts in critical areas to mitigate this expected change in weather. Crews will continue critical infrastructure protection in the town and in outlying areas."

In the Municipality of Jasper, crews are working to restore utilities, fixing water lines and power infrastructure.

They're also cleaning municipal facilities to "scale up" plans to support re-entry, "once it becomes safe to do so."

The final details and timeline will be at the discretion of Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis told reporters Wednesday afternoon.

• In Pictures: Jasper wildfire aftermath

Ellis hopes residents will be able to tour Jasper on buses "really, really soon."

"It's just about making sure that it's safe," Ellis said.

He said ATCO is starting to turn power back on in the townsite but that gas services remain unavailable.

Highway 16 is expected to reopen to commercial traffic in the next 24 hours, the minister added.

He said a plan was being formulated and should be ready in the next day or so to help people get the campers and trailers they were forced to abandon when everyone was ordered out of the park.

With files from The Canadian Press