Jasper residents allowed to return home on Friday, visitors urged to keep their distance for now [Video]

Three weeks since a wildfire forced a mass evacuation of Jasper National Park, thousands of people forced from their homes will be allowed to return to the town on Friday.

As officials announced the date during a Monday news conference, they cautioned that not everyone will want — or be able — to stay in the community, while warning the homecoming will be the start of a daunting ordeal.

“Re-entry into the municipality will pose challenges to those who have lost their homes, businesses and treasured places,” said Jonathan Large, incident commander with Parks Canada, during the joint news conference with the municipality about re-entry plans.

“We hope that this first step brings some hope to the community.” 

All residents and business owners will be allowed to enter the park starting at 7 a.m. Friday morning when Highway 16, the highway running east to west through the national park, opens …