Fire commander reflects on battling the 'Monster of Jasper'

Parks Canada incident commander Dean MacDonald led the response to the Jasper Wildfire Complex in 2024, a lightning-started series of fires that burned more than 33,500 hectares and was brought under control after 47 days.

A major wildfire complex ignited by lightning burned around Jasper, Alta., in 2024 and was widely described in the media as the "Monster of Jasper." Parks Canada mounted a coordinated response and appointed Dean MacDonald as an incident commander to oversee strategy and operations. Dry conditions and multiple ignition points led the fires to merge and expand, creating a large, prolonged suppression effort. The response involved hundreds of wildland firefighters and other personnel before the fires were brought under control. Key details: - Cause: Lightning ignited drought‑stricken vegetation near Jasper, Alberta. - Scale: The Jasper Wildfire Complex burned more than 33,500 hectares and was among the most expensive fires, with insured damage estimated at $1.23 billion. - Response: About 850 wildland firefighters and additional personnel worked on the incident until it was declared under control on Sept. 7, 2024, after 47 days. - Command priorities: Dean MacDonald prioritized protecting human life, critical infrastructure and the safety and wellbeing of firefighting crews. Summary: The Jasper Wildfire Complex highlighted the scale, cost and operational challenges of recent wildfire seasons in Canada and the ways incident commanders balance multiple priorities during large responses. Dean MacDonald described both strategic choices and efforts to shield crews from external pressures while they worked. Undetermined at this time.