This story was updated on Jan. 10 at 1:39 p.m.
In July 2024, the nation watched as Jasper, Alta. burned.
In his first book, Matthew Scace, ArtSci ’21 tells the stories of those who were affected by the 2024 Jasper wildfires firsthand. Rolling out on Jan. 21, Jasper on Fire: Five Days of Hell in a Rocky Mountain Paradise transforms what began as a news article into a moving long-form of the Jasper wildfires.
Published by Sutherland House Books, Scace’s non-fiction work prioritizes raising awareness about wildfire prevention and giving back to the Jasper community. Highlighting the generosity of those willing to share their story after losing their homes, Scace treats their s with empathy and respect.
A proud alumnus of The Journal, Scace acquired skills during his time at Queen’s that have helped him succeed. Having worked as a reporter at the Calgary Herald and Calgary Sun, and now a reporter-editor at The Canadian Press, the author has always been drawn to human interest stories. People are at the heart of what Scace does.
After watching the wildfires from afar, Scace wrote an article for the Calgary Herald on the experience of Filipino immigrants who were evacuated. Shortly after, he was approached by Kenneth Whyte, founder of Sutherland House Books to share the story of others affected by the fires.
The of a publishing house behind the project allowed Scace to focus on the book’s content, rather than the added stress that comes with self-publication. “I knew I had to say yes once he asked. It’s an opportunity you don’t get every day,” Scace said in an interview with The Journal.
Working under a tight deadline, Scace got to work, and fast.
Reaching out to those affected by the fires, Scace approached the interview process with empathy as a priority.
“The main concern I had was that people just wouldn’t be ready to talk, and I wouldn’t get people on the phone,” Scace said. He expressed the challenges of covering such an emotional event, voicing heartfelt gratitude to those willing to share their stories.
“Some of the conversations were really hard, because it was clear that they were still really shaken up by it, but also they were really kind people which was really beautiful,” Scace shared. “They were very open with me.”
Despite not being a local, Jasper is a place Scace knows well. Spending his time after Queen’s working in in Prince George B.C., he has fond memories of visiting Jasper often. This familiarity with the town helped Scace find his footing in the writing process.
“Going back was strange,” Scace shared. “It’s a very strange feeling to see an entire neighbourhood that you’ve walked through just not exist anymore.”
As well as sharing the stories of those affected, Jasper on Fire also has a future focus. With climate change playing an increasing role in these events, education is crucial.
“I think the thing that I saw in this book is that we’re not taking a full approach in handling them [the fires],” Scace said. “If we know these fires are going to happen, then how do we prepare for them?” he added.
By speaking with firefighters who fought the blaze, Scace learned that preventing fire from hitting homes in the first place is essential. The book’s introductory section explains important information, and technical aspects on how the fire spread, colouring the rest of the narrative. This combination of the scientific and the personal creates a full picture of the events that occurred in Jasper.
As an act of recognition, and on the recommendation of a friend, Scace is donating a percentage of the proceeds to the Jasper Community Team Society, a local non-profit dedicated to ing and connecting the Jasper community, now more than ever.
“I think it’s important because this book’s going to talk about something that’s really challenging for a lot of people,” Scace shared.
“It’s sort of a way to give back, and also I think people will hopefully want to help too.”
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