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Out-of-Control Wildfires in New Brunswick Keep Residents on Evacuation Standby

Officials prioritize containing the larger Miramichi wildfire, with investigations into the blazes’ causes deferred until after they are extinguished.

Overview

  • The Oldfield Road wildfire near Miramichi has expanded to about 1,358 hectares while the smaller Irishtown/115 Pitt blaze north of Moncton covers roughly 45 hectares, both remaining out of control under evacuation alerts for nearby communities.
  • More than 100 provincial wildfire personnel have been supported by roughly 30 mutual-aid firefighters from Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Maine in aerial water-bombing efforts using 14 air tankers and multiple helicopters.
  • Officials report no fatalities or structural losses to date and have imposed a provincewide woods-entry ban following an Environment Canada heat warning.
  • Premier Susan Holt and Natural Resources Minister John Herron said investigations into the fires’ origins will start only after the blazes are fully extinguished; containment remains the priority.
  • Residents in evacuation zones, including those on Weisner Road near Irishtown, say delays in posting updates to the FireWatch page have left them “in the dark”; they are urging more frequent, detailed communication.