Miramichi-area wildfire still estimated to be 65 hectares, part of highway closed

New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources says a wildfire burning in a rural area north of Miramichi has grown to about 40 hectares.

New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources says a wildfire burning in a rural area north of Miramichi is still estimated to be 65 hectares as of Friday afternoon.

The fire, which broke out near Oldfield Road and Route 8 Wednesday afternoon, was initially estimated to be around 20 hectares.

The fire was out of control and grew to about 35 hectares in size that night.

Firefighters and DNR remain on scene, along with water bombers and a dozer guard.

The New Brunswick RCMP said a section of Highway 8 between Route 450 and Oldfield Road near Miramichi are closed Friday afternoon due to a wildfire. Russellville Road and McHardy Road are also closed.

The fire was down to around 22 hectares early Thursday afternoon, but DNR said it had grown to roughly 65 hectares by 11 a.m. Friday.

“We won’t call it contained until we have a hose line entirely around it and that should happen in the next little bit, but we’re just not quite there,” Tony Cole, a Natural Resources wildfire operations supervisor, told CTV Atlantic.

There are two homes in the vicinity of the fire, though DNR says they are not in danger at this time.

“Bulldozers are making good progress building a fire break around the fire,” DNR said in an email to CTV Atlantic Friday morning.

In a follow-up email on Friday afternoon, DNR said the temperature and low humidity are causing challenges for crews.

“The next few hours will be critical,” DNR said.

Meanwhile, the province is restricting some forestry operations due to the high wildfire risk.

A provincewide burn ban also remains in place.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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