New BrunswickWith two out-of-control fires still burning in New Brunswick, and 14 other fires scattered on the provincial map, here are answers to some frequently asked questions.What to know about evacuations, the online fire dashboard, and how fires are labelledHannah Rudderham · CBC News · Posted: Aug 13, 2025 3:42 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoDespite progress, the Irishtown fire near Moncton isn’t yet considered contained. (Government of New Brunswick)With two out-of-control fires still burning in New Brunswick, and 14 other fires scattered on the provincial map, here are answers to some frequently asked questions.How is a wildfire labelled?The Oldfield Road fire, about 15 kilometres north of Miramichi, had grown to more than 1,300 hectares as of Wednesday.Meanwhile, the Irishtown fire near Moncton had not expanded since it started Monday. Both fires were still considered “out of control.”According to the definition provided online by the New Brunswick government, an out-of-control fire is any fire that is still spreading or not contained within barriers.Although progress has been made against the Irishtown fire, not enough of it is within barriers to be considered contained. The Oldfield Road fire is pictured here on Tuesday evening is now more than 1,300 hectares, a figure that includes land already burned and land still in flames. (Government of New Brunswick)Late Monday, a fire in the Bathurst area was also labelled out of control, but this changed to “contained” on Tuesday, and was later downgraded to “being patrolled.”According to the government, a “contained” fire is one surrounded by barriers, such as bulldozer breaks or hose lines, which are expected to keep it from spreading while firefighting efforts continue. This does not mean the fire is over. A contained fire “is still actively burning on some or all edges, and it could potentially jump or spread.”Including the Bathurst area fire, eight fires were listed as “being patrolled” on Wednesday. This means the fire is fully contained with barriers, and there’s little to no fire activity.For a fire to be deemed “out,” it has to be cold with no visible smoke for at least 24 hours. What does the size of a fire denote?According to the government, the size cited by officials is the area that has already burned plus the area currently burning.How is the restriction on activities in the woods enforced?In the face of extremely dry conditions, the New Brunswick government banned access to all Crown land.This means no fishing, camping, hiking, driving into the woods or using the trail systems. Camping is only allowed on campgrounds. The government has also strongly encouraged private landowners to follow these restrictions.There is also a ban on all forestry operations. In an email to CBC News on Wednesday, government spokesperson Sean Hatchard said Crown lands are being patrolled by officials from the Department of Justice and Public Safety. Premier Susan Holt said later in the day that few violations of the restrictions have been reported.Municipalities and parks around the province also responded to the provincial measures.How often is the online fire watch dashboard being updated?On the government’s website, an interactive wildfire dashboard and an activity summary are available for public viewing.It includes information about the status of a fire, the size of the fire and the number of personnel being used to fight it.A Quebec water bomber scoops water from Shediac Bay while fighting a wildfire in Irishtown. (Ron Ward/The Canadian Press)In an email, Hatchard said the wildfire situation is changing rapidly.”Please understand that the people who are inputting the information are the same people who are on the scene fighting the fires,” he wrote. “Because they’re very busy, and they have multiple responsibilities, the website is updated periodically throughout the day, when possible.”How will people be notified if they need to evacuate their homes?People in the Irishtown, Tankville, Evangeline and Lakeville areas have been told to be prepared for a potential evacuation. If an evacuation is required, Hatchard said, people will be informed by an Alert Ready message and social media posts from the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization and provincial government.He said RCMP will also be on the ground ensuring that everyone safely gets out of an area.What do you bring in the case of an evacuation?If that emergency evacuation order does come, people should be ready to go. In an email, spokesperson Nick Brown said every household that could potentially be affected should have a kit ready with enough supplies for their family for 72 hours.These supplies include water, food, a flashlight, a radio, batteries, a first aid kit, masks for smoke filtration, prescription medications, pet food and cash.In some regions of Canada where evacuation orders have been issued, there have been lineups at gas stations as people leave, such as at this one in Paradise, N.L. (Jenna Head/CBC)Some other things that might be helpful to gather in advance would be important documents, such as passports or birth certificates. In some regions of Canada where evacuation orders have been issued, there have been lineups at gas stations as people flee, so filling up your gas tank in advance could also be helpful.Are there air quality concerns with the current fires?The government uses a scale called the Air Quality Health Index to determine air quality risk. Currently, according to the online page, most places in the province are listed at three, or at low risk.Saint Andrews is listed at a four, which is moderate risk.For Miramichi and Moncton, in smoky areas, the air quality health index is a seven, which is considered high risk.In high-risk areas, people are advised to reduce or reschedule strenuous activities. Children, elderly people, and people with pre-existing heart or breathing problems may be more at risk.According to the government website, if people can taste or smell smoke in the air, they can reduce levels of physical activity as necessary and keep windows closed and air exchangers off in their homes.ABOUT THE AUTHORHannah Rudderham is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick. She grew up in Cape Breton, N.S., and moved to Fredericton in 2018. You can send story tips to hannah.rudderham@cbc.ca.
With 16 wildfires across the province, here are the answers to some FAQs
