Canadian Wildfires – 2024

Wildfires have hit the town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, located around 230 miles west of Edmonton in Alberta. Jasper is home to around five thousand residents and is a popular tourist destination year-round.

Around 25,000 residents, business owners and tourists were rapidly evacuated earlier in the week due to two fires edging closer together.  The fire continues to burn, and it is reported that there have been structural losses, to an extent of around 30%-50% of the town’s structures, both residential and commercial.

The flames are reported to have reached 300 – 400 feet in height and travelled over 5 kilometres in less than 30 minutes, making it impossible for the firefighters to alter its course. Pierre Martel, director of fire management at Parks Canada, said lightning, winds and drought made the fire grow rapidly on Monday and that flames were above the treetops when it entered the town Wednesday. “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.

The wildfire in Jasper is just one of hundreds currently ravaging Alberta and British Columbia. The wildfires have been fuelled by a recent heatwave and an increase in lightning strikes.

Last year, in 2023, a record number of wildfires forced more than 235,000 to evacuate across Canada, and thick smoke was sent into parts of the USA.

Affected Area

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Affected Industries

MDD anticipates a number of claims in the Tourism & Hospitality, Restaurant and Retail industries.

Business Interruption Coverage Issues

• Government assistance considerations
• Prevention of access – inability to access businesses due to the closure of roads
• Property damage to local businesses
• Public utilities – damage to providers of electricity, gas, sewage, and telecommunications
• Closure of premises by public authority – closure or evacuation of Insured premises
• Losses resulting from supply chain issues
• Early involvement of the appropriate experts can help with the need for any mitigation efforts.

MDD has considerable expertise in dealing with these types of claims and the complexities that may occur.  Experts like those of us at MDD will stress the need for proper audit protocols, controlling and sorting of costs and accounting for any potential saved expenses.