Fire Chief Conrad Landry provided an update on wildfire management and emergency preparedness to Moncton City Council on Monday. “Last year we had, of course, a record-breaking wildfire season,” he said to councillors and attendees. In the summer of 2025, the Moncton Fire Department responded to the Irishtown fire, which burned up to 54 hectares and prompted evacuation advisories for Irishtown, Evangeline, Tankville and Lakeville communities. “We hadn’t had a large fire like that in many years,” said Landry. “Of course, after a fire like that there’s always lessons learned.” He says the fire department proactively ordered new equipment to prepare for this season and received a federal grant for a risk assessment that provided recommendations two weeks ago. The fire department is reviewing the recommendations and Landry says they will present it to council shortly when they’re done. Coun. Charles Leger of Ward 2 suggests the information should already be put into action. “Where are we with that, as we move into fire season very rapidly? How can residents be assured that those adjacent to Mapleton, Irishtown, to Centennial, that we will be taking action to mitigate the risk?” he asked the fire chief. Landry said the recommendations only came two weeks ago and they are preparing a budgetary process to execute major projects. “I do think the risk is too high to wait on budget process,” said Leger. “We were lucky last year, I think it would have been far different had the winds gone a different direction and I don’t think we can wait.” The Government of New Brunswick launched wildfire season early this year due to concerns about low precipitation levels, a lack of snow, and prolonged drought conditions, according to a news release from April. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
