The Oldfield Road fire is still out of control after 6 days and community leaders are emphasizing the restriction on going into the woods or trail systems at this time while firefighting resources are sopread thin between multiple fires in the province. Below is the update from yesterday on the situation, and some photos from social media.
PRESS RELEASE
As of midnight, 12:01 a.m. Sunday, August 10, all Crown land in the province will close due to an extreme wildfire hazard.
As a result of extremely dry and dangerous conditions, the closure of Crown land will see all industrial and recreational activities prohibited on Crown land. We are also encouraging private landowners to take the same precautions. People currently at camps on Crown land are encouraged to leave by midnight. In addition, people are also being asked to avoid using private wood lots and woods roads.
The restrictions on Crown land, effective as of 12:01 a.m. on August 10, include:
Hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods are not permitted
trail systems through woods are off limits
camping is allowed only in campgrounds, but the public is being asked to reconsider their camping plans until such time the forest fire risk decreases
Private property owners are also strongly encouraged to follow the same approach.
As of noon on Saturday, there were seven active wildfires, including the one in Miramichi currently deemed to be out of control. Five were being patrolled and one was under control. This year, to date, there have been 222 fires, burning approximately 168 hectares. Last year, there were 215 fires that burned 185 hectares. The 10-year-average of fires to date is 206 fires that burned 374 hectares.
Along with our fleet of air tankers, we also have two skimmer planes from Quebec in action that can land on and scoop water from lakes or other bodies of water, then drop it on wildfires. New Brunswickers are asked to stay away if they see these planes near water for the safety of the pilots and themselves.
A burn ban remains in place for the entire province, including all provincial parks. Up-to-date information on wildfire risks and burn bans is available on the Fire Watch website.
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The Oldfield Road fire in Miramichi remains out of control.
Firefighting Efforts:
Evacuations: One home and three cottages were evacuated last night.
Evacuation Alert: 15 homes have been notified in case the fire advances toward their location.
Fire Status: The fire jumped Highway 8 and has burned approximately 20 hectares. Smoke is making it difficult to determine the full size at this time.
Road Closures:
Highway 8 remains closed between Route 450 and Oldfield Road.
Russellville Road and McHardy Road are also closed
Traffic is being diverted toward Neguac
Public Safety Reminder:
Boaters: Stay clear of CL-415 water bomber operations—entering these areas is dangerous and delays firefighting.
Drones/Aircraft: Wildfire airspace is off-limits to all non-firefighting aircraft.
Fire Ban Status: Extremely High Fire Risk
