Lori Daniels

ALBERTA — Lori Daniels and a team of researchers plan to let a hand-held GPS guide them to more than 100 spots in the charred forest around Jasper, Alberta. At each location… they’ll be asking: how bad was the fire? …”I’ve seen a lot of devastating fires across BC in the last decade. I’ve spent a lot of time in burnt forest,” said Daniels, a professor and co-director at the University of BC’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence. “And I have to say, there are parts of the Jasper fire that were absolutely shocking.” …The researchers want to know whether more than 20 years of forest management affected the fire’s behaviour as it barrelled toward the townsite. Parks Canada had done extensive work to thin the overgrown forest surrounding the town during that two-decade period, said Daniels. She said she believes much of Jasper is still standing because of Parks Canada’s efforts, including prescribed burns and trimming trees.

Related coverage in The Albertan: Jasper, Parks Canada officials giving tours, remarks ahead of wildfire anniversary