A former Winnipeg resident who now lives in Jasper, Alta. is in shock after having to flee her home with her husband and toddler after wildfires spread rapidly in the town.
"My family immigrated (to Canada) back in 2008 and I was 12 years old," says Shalom Capitly. She called Winnipeg home since that time, as did her husband, and both were involved in local churches until they got married.
"A day after my husband and I got married, we decided to move to Jasper," Capitly says. "His job took us there. Jasper's been home, especially because that's where our life started as husband and wife, where I gave birth, and started raising our toddler."
On the afternoon of Monday, July 22, an evacuation warning was sent to all the residents of Jasper, to pack their belongings and necessities just in case wildfires in the region moved closer to the townsite.
Capitly says that these types of warnings are not uncommon for the popular tourist destination. "Every year there's always a wildfire scare for us. We are surrounded by mountains and forests. This year it's been super dry and gusts of wind have been coming in and out so we knew something might happen."
At 8 p.m. on Monday, the municipality told citizens that the wildfire was near the townsite. Just one hour later they sent out an evacuation notice and by 10 p.m. residents were told to grab everything needed and leave immediately.
"We were able to take some clothes, our important documents, and we headed out," she says through tears. "We were stuck in traffic for hours, just in town. Everyone was panicking and I saw people running out of their homes."
25,000 people have been evacuated since Monday, with 4,500 being residents and the rest of the numbers made up of tourists, according to Capitly. They had to head west as the highways to the east of Jasper were closed due to the fires.
"We just heard news that the fire has reached town and one of the gas stations already blew up and a hotel burnt down. Apparently, more than 70 per cent was burned down as of midnight last night."
Videos posted to social media on Thursday morning shows widespread devastation with buildings reduced to rubble and cars burned out.
This is so sad! The town of Jasper, AB is devastated. Thinking of everyone who lost everything and the long road to rebuild #JasperWildfire
— Jason Kovacs (@jasonkovacs) July 25, 2024
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Capitly and her family camped at a ranch in Valemont, BC, where Capitly says the people in the town were helpful to all the evacuees. They have since headed further west.
"We're so blessed because at least we have family back home. There are some of our friends that started their life in Jasper and now it's all gone."
Capitly says that while they are left to wait and hear more news they are busy praying. "Right now we're just praying for everyone's safety. We're praying for rain and for it all to settle down. Right now they're not letting anyone in and we're all in limbo waiting."