Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says between 30 and 50 per cent of the buildings in Jasper appear to have been damaged or destroyed by the wildfire that swept into the town Wednesday night.
An emotional Smith says it will take a major re-building effort to bring the town back.
Parks Canada officials say extra structural fire crews have arrived, and are now working to prevent the flames from jumping from building to building.
They say most of the fire damage is on the west side of the town.
Critical facilities such as the water treatment plant, hospital, and schools, have been saved.
The federal government has asked more than 400 firefighters from Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and South Africa to help battle the flames.
Recent rain is expected to keep fire activity subdued for the next couple of days.
More than 25-thousand people were evacuated in the face of the fire.
– File from the Vista National News Wire
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