All traffic allowed to go through fire-ravaged Jasper ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Park

A fire truck travels past a devastated residential block in Jasper, Alta., on Friday, July 26, 2024. Wildfires encroaching on the townsite of forced an evacuation of the national park and later destroyed more than 300 of the town's 1100 structures, mainly impacting residential areas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

JASPER, ALTA. - The main east-west highway through Jasper ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Park in Alberta has reopened to all traffic after it was closed two weeks ago due to wildfires.

Parks Canada says the road is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., but that could change depending on fire behaviour and operational needs.

Drivers are not allowed to stop or exit off the highway, as there are still active fires in the park.

Officials say peace officers are patrolling the highway to make sure people are following the rules.

The Icefields Parkway, the north-south route linking Jasper and Banff national parks, remains closed except to those battling the fires.

The Jasper fire forced 20,000 visitors and 5,000 town residents to leave the area, with many fleeing west to B.C. as fire cut off road access to the east and south.

Fire swept into the Jasper townsite, destroying about one-third of its buildings.

The ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Press. All rights reserved.

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