Jasper National Park’s Monster Wildfires and Their Impact on Banff National Park

By MALIK MERCHANT

Mount Rundle after smoke from Jasper National Park fires.
A view of Mount Rundle from Vermillion Lakes in Banff on July 25, 2024, after wildfire smoke in Jasper National Park moved across many areas of Alberta including Banff National Park. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

I mourn Jasper after the devastating forest fires that have burned large sections of Alberta’s largest national park, ripped the beaitiful town, uprooted the lives of its inhabitants and forced the evacuation of more than 25,000 people, including visitors who had come to appreciate and be inspired by its unparalleled beauty.

In October 2022, I made a memorable 4-day trip to Jasper National Park, a place of unparalleled beauty, inspired by the Dark Sky Festival that is held annually. Every minute of my wonderful stay is etched in my memory. My thoughts are: What has happened to the hostel where I stayed, the shops and galleries I visited, the restaurants I frequented for my early morning coffee and breakfast, the beautiful animals I saw on land and in water, and the forests around Pyramid Lake from where I saw billions of stars, our solar system, as well as the length of our galaxy, the Milky Way, with my naked eyes?

A view of Pyramid Mountain from Pyramid Lake Island; October 17, 2022. Photograph: Malik
A view of Pyramid Mountain from Pyramid Lake Island, Jasper National Park, Canada; October 17, 2022. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simergphotos.

A NOTE TO JASPER

Jasper, we beg you that, with the force and power of nature, you come back soon and give us the joy and happiness that only nature can provide us with. Just as nature destroyed you — nay, we, the irresponsible people of this earth — prove to us that nature is forgiving and can rebuild from scratch! Through such disasters, I hope you teach us a lesson to take care of you and our neighbouring parks as well as our oceans, lakes, rivers and our animals better! We count on you for our survival but ignore you because of our selfishness!

Today, Jasper, I went to your beautiful sister Banff and captured these images, impacted by the forest fires that have wiped many parts of you, but thankfully not all of it because you are so big! Moreover, we have hundreds of firefighters from the country and around the world who are battling the raging fires to control them and save our forests from further destruction.

Norquay Lookout after Jasper National Park Fires
A view of Banff and surrounding mountains from Norquay Lookout Point in Banff on July 25, 2024, after wildfire smoke in Jasper National Park moved across many areas of Alberta, including Banff National Park. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Vermillion Lakes after Jasper Fires
A view of Vermillion Lake and surrounding mountains from Norquay Lookout Point in Banff on July 25, 2024, after wildfire smoke in Jasper National Park moved across many areas of Alberta, including Banff National Park. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Castle Mountain aftermath of Jasper Fires
A view of the iconic Castle Mountain from Castle Junction on the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) Banff on July 25, 2024, after wildfire smoke in Jasper National Park moved across many areas of Alberta, including Banff National Park. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Castle Mountain Bow Vallay Parkway looking at Lake Louise
A view of the area around Lake Louise from Storm Mountain Lookout Point in the Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A) on July 25, 2024, after wildfire smoke in Jasper National Park moved across many areas of Alberta, including Banff National Park. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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chipmunk banff national park
A beautiful chipmunk in the forests of Baker Creek on the Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park, July 5, 2024. A thought — how has wildlife been affected in Jasper National Park after the forest fires destroyed large areas of the Park? Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

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Beautiful flowers along the Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park, July 5, 2024. A thought — how has plant life been affected in Jasper National Park after the forest fires destroyed large areas of the Park? Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.

Date posted: July 26, 2024.

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