Maharshi Patel, 22, right, and his brother Om Patel, 21, on the front lawn of their fully booked family run motel in Hinton, Alta., on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The Pines Motel has been fully booked with workers, and a few displaced residents, after a wildfire damaged Jasper. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Finding a hotel room in Hinton, Alberta, has become a challenge recently. Since late July, the town of 10,000 has been hosting firefighters from across Canada and beyond, who are battling the massive wildfires in Jasper National Park, just 75 kilometers away. The town has also become a temporary home for Parks Canada, the Red Cross, and Alberta Emergency Management Agency personnel, along with some of the 5,000 residents of Jasper who were evacuated on July 22.
Tragically, less than two days after the evacuation order was given, the fires reached Jasper, destroying 358 buildings—about a third of the town’s structures, including 800 housing units. The estimated property loss stands at $283 million.
Despite facing their own challenges, Hinton officials and community leaders are committed to supporting their neighbors in Jasper. Tyler Waugh, the executive director of the Hinton Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the strong connections between the two towns. "We all have colleagues and friends and family that live and work out of Jasper," Waugh said. "A lot of people didn’t even know how to help, but they just got into action and tried to do something to show support."
The community has rallied in various ways. Local restaurants have been providing free meals to firefighters and evacuees, while community groups have organized donations to ensure those who lost everything have clothes and other essentials. Hinton’s Mayor Nicholas Nissen praised the town's response, saying, "Everyone’s telling me that Hinton’s been great to work with, that the people of Hinton have been very welcoming."
However, the fires and the closure of Jasper National Park have also taken a toll on local businesses. "What we've gone through pales in comparison," Waugh noted, "but at the same time, there's a lot of businesses in town that are hurting right now." The chamber is surveying businesses to assess the fire's direct impacts, and some may have had to lay off staff.
Not every business is struggling, though. The Hinton Home Hardware Building Centre, anticipating a surge in demand from Jasper residents returning home, has hired additional staff. The store’s owner, Marcel Preville, prepared by stocking up on essential supplies like fridges, freezers, and air filters. "All of a sudden, the needs that we generally supply the community changed," Preville said.
Looking ahead, Mayor Nissen believes Hinton is in a unique position to absorb a possible population increase, whether temporary or permanent, due to the fires. "We have plenty of land, we can get work camps and temporary housing set up as needed," he said.
On Friday morning, as Jasper residents began their return to the national park, Hinton’s fire chief, Mac de Beaudrap, stood by a fire truck on Highway 16, waving to each group heading home. Many responded with honks, smiles, and waves, a small but significant gesture of community solidarity during these challenging times.
