Canada Devastating forest fires ravage Jasper National Park

Destructive forest fires continue to spread in Canada and California. In western Canada, the popular Jasper National Park is on fire. According to authorities, the "monster fire" has reduced about 30 to 50 percent of the town of Jasper to rubble. The head of government of the province of Alberta, Danielle Smith, spoke tearfully of a "nightmare".

In Jasper National Park in the Rocky Mountains, an area of 36,000 hectares is now affected by the fires and the park is closed to visitors, according to the Canadian park authority. Almost 2,000 helpers are working to fight the fires. Around 400 emergency personnel have also arrived from abroad, including Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, to support the Canadian helpers, as reported by CBC.

Hundreds of fires are burning in the province of British Columbia on the west coast of Canada, according to the responsible authority CIFFC. Last year, Canada was ravaged by forest fires on an unprecedented scale.

Forest fires in California: Suspect arrested

The neighboring USA is also struggling with fires. A severe forest fire in northern California, which is spreading rapidly, may have been caused by arson. According to the authorities in the Butte district, the police arrested a 42-year-old suspect. He is believed to have caused the so-called "Park" fire near the town of Chico.

Investigators believe that the man pushed a burning car down a steep embankment. The vehicle burned out completely and the flames spread quickly. The man then joined other people fleeing the fire, according to reports.

More than 1,100 helpers battled the flames on Thursday (local time). Covering an area of more than 500 square kilometers, it is the largest fire in California so far this year. Over a dozen major fires are currently raging in the US west coast state. The National Interagency Fire Center currently lists 89 major fires in the USA, most of them in Oregon, California's neighboring state to the north.

In view of climate change, experts warn that fires are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Not only do people suffer as a result, numerous animals also die and habitats are destroyed.