OTTAWA — Jasper’s mayor said Monday he rejects any suggestion that Parks Canada failed in its management of Jasper National Park against the risk of wildfire, saying their efforts resulted in 70 per cent of the town remaining intact. Richard Ireland—whose own home was burned— said he’s heard criticism against the federal department. …“For anyone who might see this as a failure, I reject that premise. This is a success.” He said people are asking why more of the forest was not cleared, particularly of pine-beetle dead trees. While officials say they played a factor, Ireland said it is simply not feasible to have cleared the area. “We’re talking about a stretch of land, a valley that’s kilometres wide and 30 kilometres long,” said Ireland. …Over the past decade, he says Parks Canada has lit 15 prescribed burns in Jasper burning “thousands of hectares” in the park alone. No injuries or fatalities were reported from the blaze.