Miramichi-area fire now considered contained; 34 active wildfires in N.B.

New Brunswick is dealing with 35 active fires, several of which are out of control.

A wildfire that has been burning in the Miramichi, N.B., area for almost two weeks is now considered contained.

The Oldfield Road fire first started on Aug. 6. It is estimated to be roughly 1,402 hectares.

“I’m very pleased to be able to share that the largest fire that has seized the attention of the Department of Natural Resources, moreover I think all of New Brunswickers, was deemed contained around 9:30 this morning,” confirmed Natural Resources Minister John Herron during a news conference Monday afternoon.

“That is the result of the extraordinary leadership of our firefighting team that we have within DNR.”

When a wildfire is contained, it means it’s surrounded by barriers, such as lakes, roads and fire lines, which should keep it from spreading further, explained the New Brunswick government in a news release.

Veronique Arsenault, a Miramichi councillor, said many people in the area are relived the fire is contained, but they’re keeping their guards up.

“Contained is a fantastic change, for sure, but under control or nearly out and out in the coming days and weeks are what we’re looking for,” Arsenault said.

Herron said as many as 13 bulldozers and other tractors managed to build a firewall around the Oldfield Road fire and water bombers attacked the wildfire over the weekend. Those resources, combined with some much-needed rain, helped to contain the province’s largest wildfire.

“We got a little bit of good fortune over the course of the weekend with some rain,” said Herron.

However, he warns the Oldfield Road fire is still actively burning and could spread.

“The situation remains serious in New Brunswick,” said Herron. “Firefighters have their hands full and we appreciate the teams coming from across Canada to help us.”

The cause of the Oldfield Road fire remains under investigation.

34 active wildfires

As of 7:15 p.m. Monday, there were 34 active wildfires in New Brunswick, down from 39 active fires on Sunday.

The province says five of those fires are considered out of control:

• 250 – Chief’s
• 273 – Lovalls Lake
• 256 – Beaver Lake Stream
• 270 – Jacquet River PNA
• 281 – Rocky Brook

Of the rest:

• one is under control
• nine are contained
• five are being monitored
• 14 are being patrolled

Herron said 40 firefighters from Ontario are battling the Beaver Lake Stream fire, which was caused by a lightning strike and has grown to 650 hectares. He said water bombers will also be tackling that fire, noting it’s in a very remote area, far removed from people and roads.

No structures have been lost due to the wildfires in New Brunswick and there have been no serious injuries.

“Above all, we are heartened that we haven’t lost structures, and we have not had loss of life,” said Herron during Monday’s news conference.

Meanwhile, the province has created a new phone line for people who have questions about the wildfire: 1-833-301-0334. Information is also available on the Fire Watch page and the Public Fires Dashboard.

Rain and break in heat

Herron said the province was lucky to receive some rain over the last few days, as well as a break in the extreme heat, which has helped the firefighting efforts.

“What’s that done is, for our firefighting team, is that it’s bought us about two to three days in terms of getting the forest back to a level where it is not as tinder-dry,” explained Herron. “It also changed the temperature. We certainly have a much better environment from a heat perspective to be able to combat these fires.”

While the rain has helped some, the province says the wildfire risk remains high, as quick rain showers only dampen the surface, and dry material underneath can still ignite easily.

Herron noted rain showers can also bring lightning strikes, which can ignite wildfires.

Evacuations

There are no evacuation orders in effect at this time.

Residents living in areas close to wildfire activity are advised to be prepared to evacuate on short notice and prepare an emergency kit just in case.

The kit should include necessities for at least 72 hours, such as:

• water
• food
• flashlight
• radio
• batteries
• first aid
• masks (for smoke filtration)
• prescription medications
• pet food

“I want to stress how important it is that every household, that if you have a fire essentially in your area, that you need to make sure that you are ready to evacuate because things can change so quickly that you might not have a lot of time to prepare,” warned Herron. “That’s why we all need to plan now, so that if you do need to leave, you are ready to go.

“We aren’t out of danger yet.”

Advisory vs alert

The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization wants to make sure residents understand the difference between two different terms – evacuation advisory and evacuation alert.

“Evacuation advisory - Be ready to leave on short notice. Pack essentials (ID, medication, pets, emergency kit) and be prepared to go quickly if conditions change,” reads a post on social media from the organization.

“Evacuation alert - Leave immediately. This means the wildfire poses an imminent risk. Follow the instructions in the Alert Ready notification and go to the designated safe location. Staying informed helps you act quickly and safely.”

Air quality

Environment Canada has issued an air quality statement for the Miramichi area as smoke from the wildfire reduces local air quality.

Air quality issues can cause eye or throat irritation and shortness of breath. The city says to contact a physician or Tele-Care 811 if symptoms worsen and to call 911 if you are in severe distress.

Vulnerable groups include:

• infants
• children
• pregnant women
• older adults
• smokers
• people with chronic heart/lung disease

Residents are encouraged to keep their doors and windows closed and limit time spent outdoors.

Wildlife

The province is warning residents that the fires are pushing wildlife into unfamiliar areas.

“For your own protection, do not approach or feed wild animals. Drive cautiously near fire zones to avoid collisions, especially with moose, deer, and bears,” reads a social media post by the province.

If large or dangerous wildlife is spotted near homes or roads the province asks residents to call DNR at 1-833-301-0334.

Woods and fire bans in effect

A provincewide burn ban is in effect and all Crown lands are closed.

Residents are not allowed to hike, camp, fish or use vehicles in the woods at this time, and all trail systems through the woods are off-limits.

Camping is only allowed in official campgrounds, but the province is asking people to reconsider their camping plans until the forest fire risk decreases.

Private property owners are being encouraged to follow the same restrictions.

Forestry operations such as harvesting, forwarding, skidding, scarification, chipping and all pre-commercial thinning and cleaning, are also prohibited.

“Thank you very, very much for understanding why we had to take these precautions,” said Herron. “We will get behind this very soon. We’ll have more victories just like we had with the Oldfield fire. Stick with us and together we’ll get this done in the coming weeks.”

Wildfire status

When wildfires burn, the following terms are used to describe their status:

• out of control – still spreading and not contained
• being monitored – a known, out-of-control fire that is not immediately threatening life or infrastructure, monitored by aircraft or satellite with no resources currently assigned
• contained – surrounded by barriers, such as lakes, roads, and fire lines, but still burning and could spread
• under control – surrounded and stable; low activity, minimal risk of escape
• being patrolled – contained with little to no fire activity; crews monitoring hotspots
• out – fully extinguished; no smoke for at least 24 hours
• fire of note – a fire requiring significant resources or threatening homes or critical infrastructure

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Nick Moore

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.