EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is pushing back against a report that claims her government hindered efforts to combat last summer's devastating wildfire in Jasper. The fire destroyed about one-third of the townsite and forced 25,000 residents and visitors to evacuate.

In a social media post on Friday, Smith expressed her disappointment with the report, stating it overlooks the significant efforts made by the Alberta government during the crisis. "It is disheartening to see a report and the media response to that report that so clearly overlooks the substantial, coordinated efforts undertaken by the Alberta government during the Jasper wildfire," she wrote. Smith emphasized that Alberta's rapid deployment of crews, emergency funding, and operational support were crucial in protecting lives and infrastructure.

Smith also labeled the report and its media coverage as "politically motivated," although she did not provide further details. The report, released on Thursday, was commissioned by the town of Jasper and is based on surveys from over 200 firefighters and other personnel involved in the response.

According to the report, Smith's government complicated the firefighting efforts by frequently requesting information and attempting to make decisions outside its jurisdiction, as Jasper is a national park. It stated that this interference diverted fire leaders' attention, forcing them to manage inquiries instead of focusing on the fire itself.

In her response, Smith argued that the report fails to acknowledge Alberta's contributions, including the provision of firefighters, equipment, and financial resources. She also criticized the report for not addressing the broader issues of forest management practices within national parks, which fall under federal jurisdiction. "The long-standing lack of adequate fuel reduction and forest health maintenance in these areas has contributed significantly to the wildfire risk facing communities such as Jasper and others," she stated.

Smith's comments come as recovery efforts continue in Jasper, where officials are working to clear debris and assess the damage caused by the wildfire. The provincial government maintains that Alberta Wildfire provided essential support from the onset of the fire response, assisting in evacuations and working to save structures throughout the night when the fire breached the townsite.

In a joint statement with other provincial officials, Smith reiterated that the emergency management cabinet committee demonstrated strong leadership during the crisis. They criticized the report for its selective framing and failure to recognize the hard work of emergency personnel. "Incident reports help us learn to improve, and we hope all jurisdictions take a closer look at their own deficiencies rather than blame others," Smith concluded.