Provincial authorities are currently battling three uncontrolled wildfires in New Brunswick, as announced by Natural Resources Minister John Herron on Monday. In a joint news briefing with Premier Susan Holt, they addressed the public regarding the escalating wildfire situation in the region. One of the fires near the former Bathurst mine site in northern New Brunswick has been newly classified as out of control, Herron stated. Concurrently, the Oldfield fire located north of Miramichi has expanded from 340 hectares to 450 hectares since the last update.
The Irishtown fire near Moncton remains at approximately 54 hectares, with Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin advising residents of Irishtown, Tankville, Evangeline, and Lakeville to remain on standby for potential evacuation. Gauvin highlighted that around 900 structures and 1,500 individuals are at risk in that vicinity. The latest data from the province reveals that 131 firefighters are actively deployed across New Brunswick.
During the press conference, Herron disclosed that all Department of Natural Resources offices will be closed starting late Monday to reassign staff to support firefighting efforts. Officials at the briefing emphasized that substantial rainfall is crucial to mitigate the fire threat. However, the forecast indicates limited rain for the upcoming week, with most parts of the province under a heat advisory from Environment Canada.
Earlier in the day, Herron disclosed that the province is anticipating the arrival of an additional 30 firefighters, with 20 coming from Nova Scotia, five from P.E.I., and five from Maine. The collaborative efforts and reinforcements are essential in managing the challenging wildfire situation in New Brunswick.