New Brunswick officials say the province is in a stronger position to manage wildfires after weeks of intense firefighting, but warn that the risk remains high and caution is still necessary.
Natural Resources Minister John Herron said cooler temperatures and increased humidity have helped slow fire activity, allowing crews to shift from reactive response to more strategic planning.
“We’re in a better place today than we were just 10 days ago,” Herron said. “We’ve never experienced a wildfire season of this intensity before.
Although we’ve been preparing for it, we’re usually the province sending firefighters elsewhere, not the one receiving help.”
There were 18 active wildfires across the province as of 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Twelve are being patrolled, three are contained, and three remain out of control.
The evacuation advisory for a wildfire near Black River Bridge, southeast of Miramichi, remains in effect.
The other two out-of-control fires are located near Beaver Lake Stream, located west of Red Bank, which has grown to 338 hectares in size.
The Rocky Brook wildfire, northwest of Bathurst, has grown to approximately 204 hectares.
Most restrictions on Crown lands will be lifted at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, but the province-wide burn ban will remain in place.
Forestry operations will continue under restricted hours, from 6 p.m. to noon, with mandatory fire suppression equipment on site.
Herron said the province’s $40-million investment earlier this spring allowed for upgraded equipment and strategies, including sprinkler systems around at-risk buildings. No structures have been lost to date.
Fire Protection Limited has placed an order for two new water bombers capable of refilling from lakes and oceans.
Crews from Ontario and other provinces have joined the effort, bringing experience from previous wildfire seasons in Western Canada.
NB Power infrastructure has largely been spared, though some damage was reported near Route 8.
Premier Susan Holt said coordination between firefighting teams and NB Power has been critical.
“The teams at NB Power, along with our firefighting crews, have responded quickly where lines were at risk, especially with the wind we had over the weekend,” Holt said
“We’ve worked closely to ensure that as we fight these fires, we’re doing so in a way that keeps New Brunswickers connected and protects critical infrastructure.”
Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for southeastern New Brunswick and parts of Kings and Saint John counties due to smoke drifting in from Nova Scotia.
Holt acknowledged the challenges faced by residents without air conditioning or air purification systems.
“There’s absolutely a role for government to play to ensure our most vulnerable aren’t further impacted by the costs of a changing climate and events like the fires in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick,” she said.
“These challenges affect our air quality and force people to think about their temperatures, what they’re breathing, and how they protect themselves.”
Investigations into the causes of several fires are ongoing. Officials believe the Black River Bridge fire may have been sparked by a holdover lightning strike.
Herron said medium helicopters were used for initial attack when water bombers were grounded due to high winds.
Long-term planning is underway, with officials assessing future resource needs in collaboration with neighbouring provinces.
Holt said the province may need to revisit restrictions on Crown lands if new fires threaten homes or infrastructure.
