Dangerous wildfires forced a town and a major national park in Canada\u2019s Alberta province to evacuate overnight Monday.<\/p>\n
Evacuation orders were issued around 10 p.m. for \u201ceveryone\u201d in Jasper and Jasper National Park, according to the province\u2019s emergency alert system<\/a>. On Tuesday evening, the park said on Facebook<\/a> the evacuation of the town was complete.<\/p>\n Authorities were still trying to evacuate backcountry hikers, the post added.<\/p>\n At least two fires are burning in Jasper National Park, which was closed<\/a> Tuesday. Jasper National Park is one of Canada\u2019s most popular<\/a> parks and drew in nearly 2.5 million visitors<\/a> last year, according to Parks Canada.<\/p>\n The city has a population of around 4,100<\/a> and there were an estimated 10,000 people, including seasonal workers, in Jasper and 15,000 park visitors when the evacuation was ordered, Stephen Lacroix with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency told The Associated Press. Police officers were going to each residence to enforce the order to leave, Lacroix said.<\/p>\n One fire was 6,750 hectares (16,679 acres) while the other fire was 270 hectares (667 acres), according the park\u2019s Facebook post.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this time, returning to Jasper is not possible,\u201d park officials said on Facebook, responding to people inquiring about going back for their belongings. \u201cThe Town of Jasper and Jasper National Park remain closed, and it is crucial to comply with the evacuation order.\u201d<\/p>\n Evacuees had fled in darkness Monday with little time to prepare.<\/p>\n The early stages of the evacuation were complicated by the location of the fires, which forced most of the traffic west toward British Columbia on the region\u2019s Highway 16. By the earliest hours of Tuesday morning, some traffic was allowed to travel east.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly when roadside fire conditions permit, small groups of escorted vehicles will be directed east on Highway 16,\u201d an emergency alert stated.<\/p>\n Officials in neighboring British Columbia mobilized quickly to support evacuees.<\/p>\n \u201cBC communities large and small along (evacuation) routes are doing what we can to get gas stations open, direct folks to rest areas, open welcome centres, and provide support,\u201d Bowinn Ma, British Columbia Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, posted on social media<\/a> early Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n The wildfires are some of the at least 170 fires burning in Alberta province amid worsening fire activity in recent days.<\/p>\n