The Canadian Parks Service announced that re-entry to Jasper on Friday will now be for residents only.

Previously, officials stated that there was no way to prevent non-residents from returning to the town on Friday.

Officials have now retracted this statement.

The Canadian Parks Service stated in a post on its website on Wednesday: "Re-entry to the park on August 16 is reserved for residents only."

"We have listened to residents' concerns about safety. Your safe return is our priority. "We are in this together."

The post stated that residents will be able to show their parking permit issued by Parks Canada or a self-declaration at the park gates, and in turn will receive a resident re-entry guide.

Canadian Parks stated: "The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be stationed at the eastern entrance to ensure that everyone entering gets a resident re-entry guide. The only entrance to the town will be the eastern entrance."

Anyone without a resident re-entry guide will be directed to drive through the park on Highway 16 without stopping.

Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said: "Friday will be a day of deep emotions for residents returning for the first time."

"We ask you today to continue to respect the feelings that accompany the grief that our residents will experience on Friday."

Officials clarified that anyone needing to bring a support person or someone to assist them in their home in Jasper will not be turned away.

Sergeant Grant Neller said, "If you are a resident of Jasper and bring friends or family with you to help you in any way, whether for support or to care for your home, you will be able to come with that person."

Returning residents are warned to prepare for the town to look and smell very different from what they remember.

Jonathan Large from Parks Canada said: "The images that people see circulating on social media may not prepare everyone for the impact that returning to the town will have."

He also warned that many items were burned in the fire, and the smell still lingers in the town.

Large said: "We are talking about plastics, all the different metals, or anything that was in homes. It's not just about the trees. In some areas, it has more of an acidic smell than what you get from burning plastic. In other areas, it's just the dust you get from an old campfire."

"We really want people to be aware of what they will encounter."

Residents in Jasper but outside the main town site will receive instructions on when they can return later.