Report says Alberta government created command challenges fighting Jasper wildfire

A report commissioned by the town of Jasper says crews did their best to fight last year's devastating wildfire but the Alberta government complicated the response.

The report was based on surveyed participants and firefighters who battled the blaze that destroyed much of the mountain town.

It says the Alberta government wasn't jurisdictionally responsible to lead the crisis but made things more difficult with regular information requests and by seeking to exercise decision-making authority.

The report says incident commanders had their focus disrupted and were forced to spend precious time managing inquiries and issues instead of fighting the fire and leading the re-entry of residents who had fled their homes.