The wildfires raging near the Canadian town of Jasper have gotten out of control, causing the evacuation of more than 25,000 people and forcing them to flee from one of the largest national parks in the country, with multiple fires and thick smoke impacting the Rocky Mountain community.

According to The Guardian, officials in Alberta ordered residents of Jasper to leave the area immediately, and shortly after, they called for the complete evacuation of the town, which covers more than 10,900 square kilometers and has 5,000 permanent residents, alongside 5,000 seasonal workers, with 15,000 visitors present at that time.

According to the Alberta wildfire management, the out-of-control fire is located about 11 kilometers south of the town.

Road congestion and confusion due to citizens fleeing
The orders came around 10 PM and caught many residents and visitors off guard, as they managed to slowly escape from the mountains amidst obstacles due to congested highways, confusion, and fear of the wildfires.

In addition to evacuating the community and clearing the park, officials also worked to ensure that vehicles had enough fuel to leave the area safely, as thick smoke and fires had cut off major escape routes, forcing evacuees to head to the neighboring province of British Columbia.