Firefighters continue battling wildfires; extreme caution urged as dry conditions continue

FREDERICTON (GNB) - Staff from the Department of Natural Resources and other agencies continue to fight wildfires in various areas of the province as hot, dry weather envelopes the region.

Three of these fires remain out of control: one in the Irishtown district of Maple Hills, another north of Miramichi, and one in the Bathurst region.

Extremely dry and dangerous conditions present the risk of additional fires. A burn ban remains in place for the entire province, and all Crown lands are closed. Hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods are not permitted, and trail systems through woods are off limits; private property owners are strongly encouraged to follow the same approach.

Forestry operations such as harvesting, forwarding, skidding, scarification, chipping and all pre-commercial thinning and cleaning are prohibited.

"Conditions in our province are very dry and hot right now, and that puts us at real risk for our existing fires to grow and for new fires to start," said Natural Resources Minister John Herron. "Our priority right now is safety: keeping our residents and first responders out of danger. As part of that, we need New Brunswickers to stay out of the woods and take precautions to limit the likelihood of accidentally starting additional fires."

Given the current conditions, people should be prepared to evacuate and are reminded to gather all essentials, including medication and important documents, as well as pets and supplies, so that they do not need to return to an evacuated area.

At this time, residents of the Irishtown, Évangéline and Lakeville districts of Maple Hills, as well as the Tankville district of Moncton, should have an evacuation plan and be prepared to leave on short notice. An Alert Ready message will be issued in the event an evacuation order is issued. All New Brunswickers are advised to stay informed through trusted sources such as the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization and the provincial government's social media channels.

The government has requested assistance from its neighbours, and firefighting teams will start arriving tonight.

"To reiterate the severity of the current wildfire situation, for the first time in New Brunswick history, we have requested help from our neighbours," said Herron. "We've always been a good partner to other provinces and territories, and even to other countries, when they needed it."

In addition, as of 4:30 p.m. today, all district offices of the Department of Natural Resources will be closed to the public to allow staff to focus on firefighting efforts.

Residents are encouraged to monitor the department's Fire Watch page.

People are reminded to take precautions when heavy smoke affects air quality. Infants, children, pregnant women, older adults, smokers and people with chronic heart or lung disease should stay indoors to reduce their exposure to the outdoor air. If smoke conditions become severe, people may experience eye or throat irritation and possibly shortness of breath. People should adapt their activities as necessary.

Anyone with difficulty breathing or chest discomfort should consult their physician or contact Tele-Care 811. People in severe distress should immediately call 911.