New BrunswickIn the face of extremely dry conditions, the New Brunswick government has banned access to all Crown land.New Brunswick municipalities, parks take steps following provincial announcementRhythm Rathi · CBC News · Posted: Aug 10, 2025 12:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe province says the fire near Miramichi is out of control. (Government of New Brunswick/Facebook)In the face of extremely dry conditions, the New Brunswick government has 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 requested private landowners to comply with the restrictions.The restrictions come as the province battles 10 active fires with two major ones near Miramichi and Canterbury, while suffering from extremely dry conditions, a complete burn ban, and heat warnings in several regions.A fire in Carleton County near Canterbury spans about five hectares. (New Brunswick’s Department of Natural Resources)Municipalities and parks around the province are responding to the provincial measures.Fredericton:”Conditions that we are experiencing today are quite different from normal,” said Justin McGuigan, Fredericton’s emergency measures specialist.The city has closed all trails at Odell Park and Killarney Lake Park. The beach and lake at Killarney Lake remain open along with trails in all other parts of the city, he said. Only the trails that go through the heavy wooded areas that are closed.Fredericton has also activated a citywide fire ban, which applies to the Hartt Island RV Resort. The city has excluded barbecues or natural gas/propane fire pits from the ban.Saint John:According to a social media post, there are no restrictions accessing parks operated by the city, including Rockwood Park. But fires and barbecues are not allowed. Camping, ATV riding or other fire-inducing activities are not recommended under the burn ban.Bathurst:Bathurst is following the provincial restrictions by prohibiting hiking, biking, camping, fishing and vehicle use on all Crown land. Camping is allowed with permits only in campgrounds.The municipality asks private business and landowners to also comply by taking precautionary measures.Miramichi:The municipality has closed the trail systems at Millbank Nature trails, Morrison Cove trails and the French Fort Cove, including the Cove zip line and boat rentals. Use of recreational vehicles on city-owned trails is not allowed.The city has also requested private landowners to prohibit recreational activities in wooded areas.Edmundston:The city has echoed the province’s orders by asking public not to throw cigarette butts on the ground, avoid setting off fireworks, not make any fires including the ones in fire pits and avoid entering any forested or wooded areas.Kouchibouguac National Park:Kouchibouguac has closed all trails, all backcountry camping and access to all backcountry and forested areas.Visitor centres, front-country camping, day-use areas and beaches, lagoons, rivers and water-based activities remain open.A full fire ban is in effect.No open fires are permitted. This includes campfires and charcoal barbecues. Fire in kitchen shelter stoves is also prohibited.Propane/gas camp stoves and lanterns are permitted but should be used with caution.While smoking is not prohibited, smokers must dispose of their cigarette butts properly in an appropriate bin. Fundy National Park:All the trails, backcountry camping and forested areas across the park remain closed.Front-country camping is permitted and access to lakes, water-based activities, day-use areas and visitor centres is open.All roads at the park are closed except the Herring Cove Road, Point Wolfe Road and Highway 114. Parking on the shoulder is not allowed at Highway 114.A fire ban is in effect throughout the park, which prohibits charcoal barbecues and igniting of sheltered kitchen stoves. Use of propane gas stoves and lanterns is allowed with caution. Smoking is not prohibited and the public is urged to dispose of cigarette butts in appropriate bins.Fundy Footpath:The Fundy Footpath is closed to hikersGary Hyslop with the Fundy Hiking Trail Association said he was at the Fundy Footpath last week for some maintenance work.”It was extremely dry,” he said. “It was drier than I have ever seen it before.””Even the river levels, like the brooks and so on, [are the] lowest I have ever seen.”He said the ground felt dry and dusty which is unusual for a coastal trail.”We would need a number of days of wet weather,” he said.Hyslop encouraged trail users not to put themselves in danger and comply with the provincial restrictions.ABOUT THE AUTHORRhythm Rathi is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick in Moncton. He was born and raised in India, and attended journalism school in Ontario. Send your story tips to rhythm.rathi@cbc.ca Files from Prapti Bamaniya and Victoria Walton
New Brunswickers are being asked to stay out of the woods. But what does that look like?
