Even in a time of rampant wildfires, the blaze that scorched Canada’s Jasper National Park this summer was exceptional. It was the largest fire the park had seen in 100 years, consuming one-third of all buildings in the nearby town of Jasper.
The national park was evacuated in July, and remained closed to visitors in September. But on September 10 — as parks managers continued to battle the raging wildfire — a group of eight hikers decided to enter the park anyway. Once they got “tired,” the group called 911 for rescue, parks officials said, resulting in a helicopter evacuation from Pyramid Mountain for two of the hikers.
But parks officials claim the rescue was unnecessary and diverted crucial resources from fighting the wildfire.
“An on-site assessment by visitor safety technicians found no injuries justifying the call assistance,” Parks Canada said in an official statement. “The rescue tied up visitor safety resources, one of two helicopters working on the wildfire response for upwards of three hours, and Park Wardens.”
As a result, all eight hikers have been ordered to appear in court for a charge of Entering a Closed Area, a violation of the Canada National Parks Act. This federal offense carries a maximum fine of $25,000 each.
‘A Distress Call Without Merit’
Both Canadian and U.S. national parks share a big problem: They don’t have enough staff.
In the U.S., national park staffing has decreased by 23% since 2010, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. Reports from the Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society reached the same conclusion. In both countries, understaffing in national parks has been exacerbated by increased tourism and the effort of fighting record-breaking wildfires every year.
That means it’s harder than ever to make tough decisions about where to allocate resources, parks officials said.
“Parks Canada Visitor Safety specialists’ role is to treat critical injuries and transport injured people to advanced medical care,” Parks Canada said. “Should a more serious emergency be simultaneously unfolding, a distress call without merit may limit the ability to respond to what could be a life-threatening incident.”
The statement continued by pointing out that the hikers entered a closed Jasper National Park “despite consistent public communication about area closures through various channels, including on-site signage.” Those closures are used to ensure public safety, and violating them is a federal offense with “serious consequences,” officials said.
As a result, Canadian park wardens issued court Appearance Notices for all eight hikers. Their names and identifying information are being withheld at this time.
