Prescribed fire proposed at Jasper National Park this spring

A prescribed burn is expected in the Town of Jasper this spring to reduce wildfire risk and promote the growth of less flammable vegetation.

Parks Canada plans to use a prescribed fire this spring northwest of Jasper in order to reduce wildfire risk to the community.

Prescribed fires are used to lessen the fuel available to wildfires and promote the growth of less flammable vegetation, according to a news release. The goal is to reduce future fire intensity, slow the spread and make wildfires easier to control or extinguish.

Thinning and removal of vegetation in more than 100 hectares of Jasper National Park forests, west and north of the townsite, was already completed between December 2025 and March 2026.

The proposed fire will be contained to a 29-hectare unit called Razorback, one kilometre northwest of town near Mina Lake, and will only happen if the weather and environmental conditions meet strict criteria beforehand.

Those conditions could be met in early April, but officials say they will share another notice before any prescribed fire is ignited.

Officials say extensive planning is underway for the prescribed fire. If it is lit in April, Jasper residents may be able to see flames, smoke, sprinklers, hoses and firefighters working in the area. There may also be helicopters and bucketing, which is a normal part of operations, the news release added.

The area would be closed to the public. Up-to-date closures of trails and roads can be found on the Jasper National Park bulletins website as well as 511 Alberta.