The New Brunswick government is asking everyone in the province to stay out of the woods.
As of 12:01 a.m. Sunday, all Crown land is closed. That means no fishing, camping or hiking, no vehicles in the woods. Trail systems are closed and camping is only allowed in campgrounds.
There is also a ban on all forestry operations such as harvesting, forwarding, skidding, scarification and chipping.
“Come out of the woods, stay out of the woods until it’s safe for everyone,” Premier Susan Holt said in a Saturday afternoon news conference.
The new restrictions come as Environment Canada issued heat warnings that are scheduled to last until Wednesday for much of the province. New Brunswick, like the rest of Atlantic Canada, has been dealing with hot, dry weather for weeks.
The order applies to all forested Crown land, but private landowners are asked to follow the same rules to keep everyone safe.
‘Get out of the woods,’ NB premier asks as wildfires threaten province
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt and other officials are asking people in the province to stay out of the woods and be extremely cautious amid high fire hazard levels, with one fire already burning.
Unlike Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, New Brunswick has not imposed increased fines for people who violate the restrictions.
Holt said she hopes that step won’t be necessary.
“We know New Brunswickers want to protect our woods and forests,” she said. “Should that change, then we’ll revisit the question of fines.”
A wildfire that broke out earlier in the week on Oldfield Road, about 16 kilometres north of Miramichi, nearly doubled in size on Saturday, going from 160 hectares in the morning to approximately 240 hectares by 3 p.m., said Natural Resources Minister John Herron.
The fire near Miramichi spans approximately 240 hectares as of Saturday afternoon, said the Province. (Government of New Brunswick/Facebook)
Herron called the fire “beyond control.” He said it is in a classification that it cannot be controlled currently no matter what resources are thrown at it.
No structures have been damaged in the fire thus far but officials are knocking on doors to warn nearby cottage owners.
Highway 8 near Miramichi between Route 450 and Oldfield Road is currently closed as a result of the fire. Russellville Road and McHardy Road are also closed with diversions in place.
Herron said the province is experiencing an extraordinary drying trend due to less precipitation than usual.
Any spark can quickly turn into a serious fire, and fires in these weather conditions need to be confronted within the first five to 10 minutes, he said.
“This is an extraordinary situation that requires extraordinary measures.”
“Follow the fire ban and don’t even toss that cigarette out the window,” Justice Minister Rob McKee said at the news conference.
McKee said every household needs to have an evacuation plan in place along with an emergency preparedness kit or a pre-packed backpack readily available.
Province says the fire near Miramichi is out of control. (Government of New Brunswick/Facebook)
The entire province including provincial parks remains under a burn ban.
“I know it can be frustrating to think, look, I just want to go for a walk in the woods with my dog. But if those woods become a forest fire then you are now at risk and your dog is now at risk,” said Holt.
Highway 8 near Miramichi between Route 450 and Oldfield Road remains closed due to the forest fire. (Government of New Brunswick/Facebook)