Burn ban in effect for most of New Brunswick

The fire danger index at New Brunswick's Mactaquac Provincial Park is seen in this file photo.

The campfires are still burning in Mactaquac. They’re exempt from the full burn ban surrounding the Provincial Park just outside of Fredericton.

Conditions are being monitored throughout the weekend, as campers wonder how things became so dry, so quickly.

Murray Crouse, Chief of the nearby Upper Kingsclear Fire Department, says this is a good example of how quickly things can change in the woods, even after a good soaking of rain.

"A lot of that absorbs in the ground, and with the wind, it doesn't take long to dry it out," says Crouse.

The park is not as dry as some places.

Evacuation orders are in place for parts of western Canada, due to forest fires burning out of control.

Firefighters from the Maritimes are amongst those on the ground trying to help.

Crouse says it is a good reminder to anyone burning fires outside this summer is to always check the fire index first, even if they feel confident of no ban being in place.

Aside from the full burn ban in effect for most of New Brunswick, current restrictions in the northwestern part of the province allow burning during the night.

In Nova Scotia, fires are also being restricted to nighttime hours across the province.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore.