Nearly seven weeks since a wildfire forced the evacuation of Jasper National Park and burned nearly a third of the townsiteB次元官网网址檚 structures, Parks Canada says the blaze is now officially under control.

Landon Shepherd, incident commander with the parks agency, told an online media briefing Saturday the change in status means the fire has been sufficiently suppressed to ensure it wonB次元官网网址檛 spread outside of its defined perimeter.

Shepherd says that perimeter is 278 km long.

The fireB次元官网网址檚 status was last changed on Aug. 17 when it moved from being out-of-control to B次元官网网址渂eing held,B次元官网网址� which meant it wasnB次元官网网址檛 expected to spread into any priority areas.

That happened one day after residents of the Jasper townsite were allowed to return home on Aug. 16.

Shepherd notes there is still a good chance that smoke, as well as flames, will be visible inside the fire area right into early winter.

B次元官网网址淲hile we have much to celebrate today, thereB次元官网网址檚 certainly a lot more to be done, and our collaborative efforts arenB次元官网网址檛 going to end with just putting this B次元官网网址榰nder controlB次元官网网址� stamp on a very large and complex wildfire, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Municipality of Jasper on the road to rebuilding and recovery,B次元官网网址� Shepherd said.

The townB次元官网网址檚 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors to Jasper National Park were ordered out in late July due to the wildfire.

Shepherd said the change in the fireB次元官网网址檚 status wonB次元官网网址檛 affect whatB次元官网网址檚 open in the park. Campgrounds and many trails remain closed, according to the parkB次元官网网址檚 website, and Shepherd said that reopening them requires crews being able to ensure areas are safe from fire-weakened trees.

The website says Roads are also closed other than Highway 16, Highway 93N, the Columbia Icefield area, Miette Road and Miette Hot Springs area, the Jasper town site, and the Pyramid Lake area west of the Pyramid Lake parking lot.

The Canadian Press