New Brunswick reports 19 active wildfires, 3 out of control Sunday

In New Brunswick, there are currently 23 active wildfires, with three burning out of control in the province.

The New Brunswick government says 19 active wildfires are burning in the province Sunday, up from 16 on Saturday.

Of those:

• 12 are being patrolled
• four are now contained

Three wildfires are still burning out of control, compared to two on Saturday. They include:

• 256 – Beaver Lake Stream
• 281 – Rocky Brook
• 295 – Peatmoss Piles

The province said the situation may change and numbers may evolve throughout the day. People are being asked to avoid travelling in the affected areas unless necessary to allow emergency crews to work safely.

A provincewide burn ban remains in effect.

The province has created a 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.

Air quality statement in effect

A special air quality statement has been issued for Moncton and Southeast New Brunswick, advising that smoke from the wildfire is reducing local air quality.

“People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke, including people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and people who work outdoors, should avoid strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms,” said Environment Canada.

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

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

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’s Stephanie Tsicos

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