New BrunswickNatural Resources Minister John Herron said the province is in good shape as the number of wildfires has fallen over the past two weeks. There are nine active fires, with two out of control.One new out-of-control fire was detected on WednesdayOliver Pearson · CBC News · Posted: Sep 03, 2025 3:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoA new out-of-control fire was detected on Wednesday, just southwest of the Chief’s fire in Northumberland County. (Submitted by the government of New Brunswick)The wildfire situation in New Brunswick is improving, with the number of blazes falling to nine from 39 two weeks ago, Natural Resources Minister John Herron said.However, the wildfire season is expected to run into mid-October, he noted.”We’re going to be concerned, you know, everyday from any type of weather event like lightning that could cause a fire or fire that’s … induced by some form of human activity,” Herron said.As of Wednesday, two fires are out of control, one is contained and six are being patrolled.The most concerning fire is the 456 hectare, out-of-control blaze at Beaver Lake Stream, just north of the Kennedy Lakes Protected Natural Area in Northumberland County.”We’re worried about that one. That one has the capacity to grow,” Herron said. “We’ve been on top of it for the last little bit.”The remote location of the fire has made it difficult for the province to get firefighters and bulldozers to the area. Bulldozers help clear a perimeter around the fire.”We don’t have that fire break, that bulldozer edge and hose around that one, just yet,” he said. “But other than that one, we’re in pretty good shape, especially thinking about where we were just a couple weeks ago.”Firefighting crews create perimeters around blazes, like they did in the Irishtown wildfire burning outside of Moncton in August, in order to try and contain fires. (Submitted by the Department of Natural Resources)The numbers have improved, but Herron said the forest floor is still extremely dry and he’s hoping the weekend will bring some rain to help douse the remaining fires.WATCH | ‘We will see an increase in fire activity’: summers like this more likely, scientists say:Climate trends make N.B. fires a possible sign of more to comeScientists say warming weather plus unusually low precipitation create perfect conditions for fires.Herron said the Rocky Brook fire in Restigouche County is also concerning, despite being listed as contained.”That fire is in a very deep ravine gorge. I flew over that fire just yesterday and there’s still work to be done to be able to beat that fire down.”A new out-of-control, 0.1 hectare fire was detected, next to the Chief’s fire in Northumberland County. The latter is 218 hectares and listed as being patrolled.According to the province’s fire watch website, a contained fire is surrounded by barriers like bulldozer breaks or hose lines, which are expected to keep it from spreading further. ABOUT THE AUTHOROliver Pearson is a reporter at CBC New Brunswick. He can be reached at oliver.pearson@cbc.ca
N.B. wildfire situation improving; season expected to run until mid-October
