New Brunswick wildfire remains out of control, but residents cleared to return home
New Brunswick residents who were forced to leave their homes in the south of the province this week because of a raging wildfire are being told it's safe to return.
Saint Andrews, N.B., Mayor Brad Henderson said residents in the Bocabec and Chamcook areas of the municipality can either return home or, if they prefer, spend another night in a temporary shelter set up in Saint Andrews.
The aftermath of a forest fire in Bocabec, N.B., on May 30, 2023. (Nick Moore/CTV Atlantic)
Roadblocks put up on the main route out of Saint Andrews will be taken down, he told a news conference Tuesday.
"Although the firefighters are definitely feeling confident about the distance between structures, it is still an active fire," he said. "You still have to be aware of your surroundings."
One house was destroyed and about 300 people were forced from homes in communities surrounding Saint Andrews after a fire started by an all-terrain vehicle spread to about a two-and-a-half square kilometre area by Monday morning.
People were allowed to return home despite the active fire after consultations with fire officials, Henderson said in an interview.
"It's more of a situation, it appears, where it is hot spots that they're just putting out versus a big engulfed flame," he said. "The fire is not considered out of control near any residential areas .... I wouldn't say that it's necessarily out of control. It's just not contained."
Firefighters from the Lawrence Station Fire Department deliver water to the scene of a forest fire in Bocabec, N.B., on May 30, 2023. (Nick Moore/ CTV Atlantic)
Roger Collet, wildfire management officer with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, said crews have made progress containing the fire and protecting homes. He said 220 hot spots were identified, mostly on top of mountains, and they will be closely monitored by fire officials.
Water bombers spread long-term fire retardant -- colloquially known as "red stuff" -- to establish perimeters and keep the fire within boundaries, he said.
"We're going to keep monitoring all the time," Collet said. "If we think things are starting to ramp up a little, we certainly won't hesitate to (order evacuations) again if we need to. But right now we're confident enough that we think it's going to hold."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2023.
For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.