N.B. forest fire still out-of-control, but 'manageable'
The forest fire in New Brunswick’s Charlotte County has become “manageable” on its third day burning, allowing air tankers and support planes to be shared with Nova Scotia.
“The Stein Lake fire is still listed as out-of-control,” New Brunswick wildfire management officer Roger Collet said Wednesday afternoon.
“We estimate it’s maybe 15 to 20 per cent contained.”
Collet said the fire has burned about 540 hectares of forest in the Bocabec and Chamcook area, with up to 300 hotspots still being monitored.
“We felt confident enough that we were able to help Nova Scotia today, so we sent our water bombers over to help them this morning,” said Collet.
“We had eight of them going back and forth from New Brunswick. We’ve coordinated it so we have four water bombers over Nova Scotia and four over New Brunswick, at all times,” he said.
About 300 people were evacuated from their homes in Bocabec and Chamcook on Sunday afternoon, after an all-terrain vehicle fire spread in the woods.
The fire destroyed one home.
The evacuation order for residents of Bocabec and Chamcook was lifted on Tuesday afternoon, but firefighters expect to be on the ground in the area well into June.
‘WE’RE TRYING TO BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE”
The entire province of New Brunswick is under a burn ban, and people have been asked to avoid activities in the woods — though being in the woods has not been outright banned.
“They’re actually doing it on their own,” Collet said of residents avoiding forested areas.
“So that’s exactly what we wanted.”
Quad NB has asked people to avoid using all-terrain vehicles for the next two weeks.
“We’re trying to be more proactive than reactive,” said Jacques Poirier, Quad NB’s general manager. “All of the clubs that had activities planned for this weekend, and the following weekend, did postpone or cancel their events.”
Forestry companies in New Brunswick, including J.D. Irving Limited and AV Group, have voluntarily placed restrictions on daytime operations until further notice.
“The actual operations that we limit between those hours of 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. is any harvesting, any pre-commercial thinning, tree-planting or road construction,’ said Mike Légère of AV Group.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.