New Brunswick is continuing to battle two out-of-control forest fires and is calling on outside resources from other provinces and one U.S. state.
The Old Field Road fire near Miramichi continues to expand and has reached 687 hectares.
“At the moment, we’re unable to get in front of that fire,” Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister John Herron said during a news conference on Monday. “But we do have the capacity to help steer it. Steer it away from people.”
One in the Irishtown area, near Moncton, continues to be considered out-of-control and has burned around 54 hectares. It is a fire that is threatening property and people, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (DNRED).
About 900 buildings and approximately 1,500 individuals could be impacted by this fire.
Residents in the Irishtown, Tankville, Evangeline and Lakeville areas are being told to be prepared to evacuate on short notice. Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said this advisory remains in effect and will issue a message through Alert Ready – the country’s emergency alerting system which is delivered to TV, radio and cellular devices – if people have to evacuate.
“All New Brunswickers should have an evacuation plan,” he said during the news conference. “If you don’t have one, make one.”
Gauvin urged people in the area to remain calm, but be prepared. The Maple Hills Moncton Kia Centre, Gauvin explained, is prepared to take evacuees.
He said this is a place people can go with no alternative.
More resources needed
A third fire near Bathurst was is also considered out of control but has since been contained.
“We want to be on the front foot, we want to be as proactive as possible,” Herron said. “We are adding to our resources with respect to combating fires. For the first time, I believe, ever, we’ve actually requested boots on the ground from our neighbours.”
The province is seeking 60 Type 1 firefighters. Half of those resources are coming from Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Maine.
Twenty are from Nova Scotia and five each from P.E.I. and Maine.
“We’re adding two air attack helicopters,” Herron said, adding they have been on lease but are being transitioned to carrying water buckets which are scheduled to arrive Monday evening.
Those aerial assets, Herron said, are immensely precise. It has also requested from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre up to two more Canadair CL-415 — known to some as Super Scooper water bombers.
The department has also closed all DNR offices in an effort to make those personnel, some of whom are also trained in firefighting, available to assist in continuing efforts.
Ban on activities on Crown land
Premier Susan Holt told New Brunswickers to ‘get out of the woods, and stay out of the woods.’
The ban includes a prohibition on Crown land of hiking, fishing, camping, and the use of vehicles. Camping was allowed in designated campgrounds, but the province asked individuals to reconsider their camping plans.
“There could be a fine of $140 plus the surcharge, $172.50,” said Minister of Justice, Rob McKee, of where the provision currently stands. He said this fine is in accordance with the Crown Land and Forest Act and that if someone is found to be the cause of a fire they will be responsible for the costs to put the fire out, up to a maximum of $250,000.
Other provinces have significantly increased fines for those found in violation of the various bans on activities in wooded areas.
Forestry activity is also restricted. Harvesting, forwarding, skidding, scarification, chipping and all pre-commercial thinning and cleaning are restricted. While trucking, road construction and maintenance, vegetation management and tree planting remain allowed.
Herron also added that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has not observed a drying situation as severe as this since 1986. He has repeatedly called the situation unprecedented.
Holt said two fines have been issued for violations of the province’s restrictions. “We know that the hot, humid, windy weather is going to continue for the foreseeable future,” said Holt. “This is a scary time for our province, and I want to reassure folks that our entire team … is doing everything possible to protect you and your communities and our forests.”
Updates on the the fires are available on the FireWatch website.
