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
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.