A wildfire that ravaged a picturesque town in Canada was partly caused by lightning, authorities say.
The blaze spread to the historic town of Jasper from the Canadian Rockies, where 25,000 people have been forced to flee.
Flames higher than treetops roared into the town on Wednesday night, destroying half the buildings, officials said on Thursday.
Pierre Martel, director of fire management at Parks Canada, said lightning, winds and drought made the fire grow rapidly on Monday.
“It’s just a monster at that point. There are no tools we have in our tool box to deal with that at that point. You get out of the way, you retreat,” he said.
Jasper National Park in the western Canadian province of Alberta, is famous for hiking, skiing, kayaking and biking. It is also home to elks, mountain goats, cougars and bears.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, following a mass evacuation of the area but Richard Ireland, the mayor of Jasper, wrote in a post on the town’s website that the wildfire had “ravaged our beloved community”.
“The destruction and loss that many of you are facing and feeling is beyond description and comprehension, my deepest sympathies go out to each of you,” he said.
Jasper and the neighbouring national park had been threatened by fires from both the north and south, and the town’s 5,000 full-time residents – along with 20,000 visitors –started leaving the area on Monday night.
Alberta had been baking in temperatures that had already forced 7,500 people out of remote communities. About 175 wildfires are burning across the province, including 54 that are out of control.
Todd Loewen, Alberta forestry and parks minister, said many of the fires were caused by lightning.
Christie Tucker, Alberta Wildfire spokesman said firefighters are expecting winds to fan the flames making the situation even more precarious.
Officials said lightning was responsible for sparking fires in California earlier this week and 15 blazes in Idaho.
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