New Brunswick receives help from neighboring provinces to fight wildfires

Firefighters from P.E.I., N.S., and Maine are being sent to New Brunswick to help fight active forest fires near Moncton and Miramichi. The province requested 60 firefighters, and so far, 30 have been confirmed, with the remaining 30 expected to arrive soon. This is the first time New Brunswick has requested help from neighboring provinces. Fire crews from other jurisdictions will be deployed to either the fires near Moncton or Miramichi depending on how they evolve. The province currently has two water bombers out on loan in Newfoundland and has borrowed two from Quebec.

New Brunswick is currently facing two significant wildfires near Moncton and Miramichi, which have been burning out of control. In response, the province has requested assistance from neighboring provinces and the state of Maine. As of now, 30 firefighters have been confirmed to arrive, with an additional 30 expected shortly [1].

Minister of Natural Resources John Herron confirmed that the province has requested 60 firefighters in total, with 20 from Prince Edward Island, five from Nova Scotia, and five from Maine. This is the first time New Brunswick has formally requested help from neighboring provinces [1].

The fires near Moncton and Miramichi are particularly concerning due to their proximity to residential areas. The Moncton fire, located in the Maple Hills community, has reached at least 54 hectares and is considered out of control. The Miramichi fire, located on Oldfield Road, spans 340 hectares and is also burning out of control [1].

To bolster its firefighting capabilities, New Brunswick has also borrowed two water bombers from Quebec. The province currently has two water bombers out on loan in Newfoundland, which were recently sent to help battle wildfires there [1].

The province is focusing most of its resources on the Moncton fire due to its proximity to homes. The potential evacuation zone includes Weisner Road, Cape Breton Road, Lakeville, and Lakeside Estates Mini Home Park, which is estimated to include 900 structures [1].

Residents in the affected areas are advised to stay vigilant and follow any evacuation notices issued by the New Brunswick Measures Organization. The province is also urging residents to download the Voyent Alert app to receive up-to-date notifications about potential evacuations [1].

While the fires remain a significant challenge, the province is working diligently to contain them and protect the communities at risk. The assistance from neighboring provinces and the state of Maine is a critical component of this effort [1].

References:
[1] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fire-help-firefighters-miramichi-moncton-wildfire-1.7605671
[2] https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/new-brunswick/article/miramichi-moncton-area-wildfires-in-new-brunswick-still-burning-out-of-control/