N.B. reports 9 active wildfires, one out of control Friday

A firefighter works on a wildfire in New Brunswick in August 2026. (New Brunswick government)

New Brunswick continues to report nine active wildfires in the province Friday.

Four fires are being patrolled, one is contained, three are under control and the Beaver Lake Stream fire is out of control.

The province is asking residents to stay clear of active fires and firefighting operations.

“Rain is forecast but it will take several consecutive days of significant rainfall to reduce wildfire risk,” reads a news release from the New Brunswick government.

The provincewide burn ban remains in place.

Air quality statement

An air quality statement is in effect for Saint John and County and the Fundy National Park.

“Smoke from a wildfire in Annapolis County in Nova Scotia will reduce air quality downwind today across the Bay of Fundy. Smoke conditions may vary locally as wind and fire behaviour changes,” the statement reads.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources says as smoke levels increase, health risks increase and recommends limiting time outdoors. The department adds you may experience symptoms such as:

• eye, nose and throat irritation
• headaches or a mild cough
• wheezing, chest pains or severe cough

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

Evacuation preparation

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

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.”

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