Maybe the right words will come eventually. Maybe once the dust settles, and the rain falls, and we have an accurate assessment of the damage, maybe then we’ll be able to fully express our sadness about Jasper’s recent tragedy and our gratitude to the heroes who’ve been fighting these wildfires for days and who continue to fight.

We’ve been touched by the outpouring of love from people around the world who know and love Jasper. While we wait for a complete picture to develop of the current situation, we ask travelers for patience and grace as many of our residents and businesses navigate this loss and turn to the future rebuilding of our community. Know that we will be back. Our mountains have stood tall for millions of years, and Jasper will stand tall through this.

This is the frustrating message by Tourism Jasper, one of the most known tourism destinations in Canada.

Giant fast-moving wildfires have destroyed half of this historic Canadian town. Heroic firefighters work and and night to save historic buildings.

While no deaths have been reported, about 20,000 tourists and 5,000 residents have fled the region. Jasper is in the Canadian Province of Alberta. Every year more than 2 1/2 million people visit Jasper and also the nearby Banff National Park.

Fires are still not under control and warmer weather is forecasted, with 89,000 acres of land destroyed. Fortunately, neighboring communities are safe at this time.

“There is no denying that this is the worst nightmare for any community,” the Premier of the Province Danelle Smith said. In tears, she added that Jasper National Park had been “a source of pride” for many generations.

In addition to fires in Alberta, there are hundreds of active blazes in neighboring British Columbia, California, and Utah.