New BrunswickTwo wildfires still burn out of control in the province. An evacuation advisory in Northumberland County from Sunday has now been lifted.The Black River Bridge fire in Northumberland County is listed as containedOliver Pearson · CBC News · Posted: Aug 26, 2025 8:25 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoA photo taken on Aug. 13 shows firefighters working to extinguish the Oldfield Road wildfire in the Miramichi area. (Government of New Brunswick)New Brunswick’s provincial government has lifted an wildfire evacuation advisory for people in Northumberland County living on Highway 117 east of Miramichi, from Black River Bridge up to and including Little Branch.The advisory was issued on Sunday evening.Mark Taylor, a spokesperson for the province, said in an email that the Black River Bridge fire is contained as of Tuesday morning. The fire is two hectares in size. According to the province’s website, a fire is contained when it is surrounded by barriers like bulldozer breaks or hose lines, which are expected to keep it from spreading further if firefighting efforts continue.The fire is still actively burning and it could potentially jump or spread.Natural Resources Minister John Herron said earlier Tuesday morning that the province has a picture of the tree that was struck by lightning, causing the Black River Bridge fire.The fire is in a wet, boggy area, which helps the rate of spread but prevents crews from bringing in heavier equipment such as bulldozers, according to Herron.”We’re going to have to probably have a series of strategic attacks, potentially using our helicopter infrastructure,” he said.Taylor said there are 13 active fires, two of which are out of control, across the province.The province has lifted the wildlife evacuation advisory for people in Northumberland County. (Chad Ingraham/CBC)The remote Beaver Lake Stream fire burning just above the Kennedy Lakes Protected Natural Area is out of control at 338 hectares in size.Herron said the province’s fire centre deems the fire 30 per cent contained. “That means we have a fire break or a hose around 30 per cent of that fire as we speak,” Herron said Tuesday morning.The Rocky Brook fire is out of control about 40 kilometres south of Dalhousie, and is 204 hectares in size.Herron also said the Rocky Brook fire is getting close to containment.Crown land, some city parks openAfter a two-week closure due to the high risk of wildfires across New Brunswick, Crown land is now open to the public once again following Monday afternoon’s announcement from Premier Susan Holt.Restrictions remain on timber harvesting, which will only be allowed from 6 p.m. to noon and will be reassessed on a daily basis, according to a news release from the province.Peat harvesting, which has been permitted since Aug. 13, also has restrictions.Holt also warned New Brunswickers going back into the woods, and reaffirmed that a provincewide ban on campfires and burning of any kind is still in place.”We’re asking all New Brunswickers to continue to be safe and to take care, to be thoughtful about your ATVs, not to smoke in the woods,” she told reporters Monday.Crown land opened at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday after being closed on Aug. 10 due to the high risk of wildfires.Herron said on Monday that restrictions could return if more fires are ignited.”Should we face a fire of significance that is threatening homes, businesses, or other infrastructure, we may need to reconsider added precautions on Crown lands again,” he said.The province has left it up to municipalities to open up parks and trails.In Fredericton, Killarney Lake Park and Odell Park reopened Tuesday and a burn ban will remain in effect for the city.The University of New Brunswick will reopen the UNB Woodlot Trails later Tuesday morning.Fredericton will reopen Odell Park and Killarney Lake Park while a burn ban remains in place for the city. (Mike Heenan/CBC)Saint John has decided to keep its trial systems closed, including Little River Reservoir, Rockwood Park, and Tucker Park.The city said in a news release the decision was made to “protect the community and the city’s green spaces while conditions remain extremely dry and the fire risk is high.”According to the City of Moncton’s website, municipal parks reopened Tuesday morning.The city also said no barbecuing of any kind is permitted at this time and people should continue to be extra cautious in green spaces that remain abnormally dry.It’s mainly cloudy across the province on Tuesday, with chances of showers and a risk of thunderstorms in the north.Highs range from 18 C on the coast to 26 C inland.ABOUT THE AUTHOROliver Pearson is a reporter at CBC New Brunswick. He can be reached at oliver.pearson@cbc.ca
Province lifts wildfire evacuation advisory in eastern N.B.
