While crews have successfully contained the Oldfield Road fire near Miramichi, they are continuing to battle wildfires across New Brunswick.
Natural Resources Minister John Herron said the fire was officially classified as contained at 1,400 hectares around 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Crews used five waterbombers and 13 bulldozers to build a firewall around the blaze, aided by weekend rainfall and cooler temperatures.
“This is a result of extraordinary leadership from our firefighting teams,” Herron said.
Despite the progress, wildfire conditions remain serious across the province. There are 35 active fires, including six that are out of control, according to the latest situation update as of 3:15 p.m.
The Beaver Lake Stream fire west of Red Bank has grown to 650 hectares, while the Chief’s fire northeast of Northesk is nearing 220 hectares.
Herron noted that the recent rain has brought crews two to three days of reprieve, but more is needed.
He said two to five days of sustained rainfall would be “immensely helpful” in reducing fire risk and allowing for more strategic planning.
The province is considering reopening some areas on a regional basis, depending on rainfall and safety conditions.
Herron explained that forestry operations may resume in select zones, with precautions such as water tanks, fire spotters and company-owned fire trucks required on site.
He also added that the province is monitoring the economic impact of the fires, estimating that roughly 2,500 hectares of forest have been affected.
Herron said the potential loss could amount to $42 million in lumber value, $10.5 million in tax revenue and $4 million in royalty revenue.
“I do want to be able to point out that there has been an economic loss,” Herron said.
“Those fires do represent a very significant amount of our inventory from a forest perspective that we are paying attention to.”
No structures have been lost, and no fatalities have been reported. Herron credited the province’s structure protection unit for safeguarding critical infrastructure, including a telecommunications tower near Route 8.
The cause of the Oldfield and Irishtown fires remains under investigation. The Beaver Lake Stream fire has been confirmed as lightning-related.
Herron said any lifting of restrictions will be done regionally, not province-wide. Recreational access to Crown lands remains prohibited, and a full burn ban is still in effect.
Residents are encouraged to prepare for possible evacuation if fires approach their area.
Officials are also directing the public to the FireSmart webpage and FireWatch portal for tips and updates.
