3 fires now out of control in New Brunswick, minister says
Natural resources minister, premier update public on fires near Moncton, Miramichi and Bathurst
Provincial teams are now fighting three out-of-control wildfires in New Brunswick, Natural Resources Minister John Herron confirmed Monday.
He and Premier Susan Holt held an afternoon news conference to update the public on what Holt described as a worsening wildfire situation.
A fire near the old Bathurst mine site in northern New Brunswick has been newly categorized as out of control.
That's as the Oldfield fire north of Miramichi has grown to 450 hectares, from 340 hectares at the last update.
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The Irishtown fire near Moncton remains at about 54 hectares in size, but Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin said residents of Irishtown, Tankville, Evangeline and Lakeville should remain prepared to evacuate on short notice.
He said there are about 900 structures and 1,500 people at risk in that area.
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Earlier on Monday, Herron said the province is expecting the help of an additional 30 firefighters — 20 from Nova Scotia, five from P.E.I. and another five from Maine.
"We made a request for 60, so we're already halfway there," Herron said in an interview Monday morning. "We're very heartened that [our] neighbours have have stepped up and offered help to us."
The Natural Resources Department could not confirm when crews from other jurisdictions would arrive to help, only that they will be deployed to either of the fires near Moncton or Miramichi depending on how they evolve.
"We're usually the ones who actually send firefighters to other jurisdictions," Herron said. "For the first time, unprecedented, we've actually asked for boots on the ground here in New Brunswick."
The Municipality of Maple Hills posted a map on Facebook to alert residents in the area to be prepared for any evacuation orders. The map displays an area with the following boundaries: Cape Breton Road to the north, Weisner Road to the east, Elmwood Drive to the west and Roma Way to the south. (Maple Hills NB/CBC)
The province currently has two water bombers out on loan in Newfoundland, Herron said, which it recently sent to help battle wildfires there. But the province has borrowed two from Quebec that are supplementing resources.
"We have two that are actually larger on loan for us to contest the wildfire in Oldfield," he said, referencing the fire near Miramichi that began Wednesday.
Herron said the province also requested a Canadair CL-415, a large water bomber plane with a scoop to pick up water.
While the province has received help through aerial supports like water bombers in the past, according to Herron, this is the first time it's made a formal request for help.
An aircraft operates near the fire in Maple Hills on Sunday afternoon. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Moncton community preparing for potential evacuation
Residents in Maple Hills, a rural community outside of Moncton, were warned on Sunday that they may need to evacuate their communities.
"We haven't hit that threshold where we have to ask people to move." Herron said Monday. "If we feel that homes or people are at risk, that's the trigger."
Provincial and municipal fire teams resumed their efforts to fight the fire there Monday around 6 a.m after taking a break overnight on Sunday, according to the community's Facebook page.
According to the province's fire dashboard, the fire status remains out of control, and the size had reached at least 54 hectares.
Herron said the province is focusing most of its resources on that area because of the large number of homes nearby.
"This is the first fire that we've had that is still considered to be out of control that is near structures," he said.
The potential evacuation zone near Moncton includes Weisner Road, Cape Breton Road, Lakeville and Lakeside Estates Mini Home Park, an area that the province estimates include 900 structures, most of which are homes.
Lori Godin lives on Cape Breton Road. She stayed home from work on Monday to get her belongings packed up.
"It's interesting how little you actually pack up when you think you might have to leave," she said. "We just have the essentials ready to go on any notice."
She and her neighbours have been sitting with each other, waiting for any updates.
"It's unsettling, and it's just way to close to home," she said. "You don't think it's going to happen to you but here we are."
She said her and her husband are thankful for crews who have been fighting the fire.
"Our fate is in their hands or in nature's hands, really," she said. "They worked tirelessly yesterday. It's good to know that people are there for us if need be."
The community of Maple Hills directed its residents to check the New Brunswick Measures Organization Facebook page for information on a potential evacuation notice.
The City of Moncton has imposed restrictions on outdoor activities in the woods after several municipalities across the province did the same in light of dry conditions.
Irishtown Nature Park, Mapleton Park, Centennial Park Trails are all closed. The Riverfront Trail is also closed between the West Main traffic circle and the Gunningsville Bridge. Barbecuing in parks, outdoor fire pits and fires of any kind are not allowed.
The city is advising people to be cautious in open parks and green spaces, to dispose of cigarette butts responsibly and to avoid parking on dry grass. Residents should also have a 72-hour emergency kit ready.
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Miramichi remains 'out of control' but being 'steered'
The blaze, about 15 kilometres north of Miramichi, is still burning out of control as of Monday morning, according to Mayor Adam Lordon.
According to the province's fire dashboard, the fire on Oldfield Road spans 340 hectares.
Crews have been able to navigate the fire from spreading near homes but they are not able to get "out in front of it at this point in time."
"So far, it's being steered away from structures," Herron said in an interview with CBC's Information Morning on Monday.
In typical conditions, firefighting crews have about 30 minutes to be able to combat a fire that has just started, Herron said. But in these extreme dry conditions, the amount of time crews have reduces dramatically.
"Right now, we need to be there within five or 10 minutes."
Some residents near Miramichi were asked to evacuate the area last week, and 15 more homes are now on standby for a potential evacuation notice, Lordon said.
People living in the city, further away from the fire, are also vigilant.
"People understand that there's no imminent threat to their home at this time," he said. "They're concerned about the fact that it's out of control."
Lordon suggests residents download the Voyent Alert app, which is free in any app store and used by municipalities across Canada to send notifications to residents in an emergency.
Herron said crews have contained a fire that was burning out of control in Canterbury, a former village in York County.
He added there are currently a total of 12 active fires across the province, but that "the vast majority" have been deemed under control and are being monitored so none of the embers comes alive again.
This article, written by Katelin Belliveau, was originally published for CBC News.
Thumbnail image courtesy: Shane Magee/CBC