A stubborn forest fire in northeast New Brunswick was listed as “contained” Tuesday afternoon, but residents in the area weren’t being allowed to return to their homes just yet.
Provincial fire prevention officer Roger Collet said strong winds, dry weather and lingering hot spots leave the possibility of flames starting up again.
“Contained is still not under control,” Collet said.
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“It’s still a possibility for things to pop up and go again, so rather than let them in and have to evacuate them again, they’re going to be sure that they won’t have to do that,” he said.
The blaze started Saturday on Miscou Island, forcing an evacuation of 25 people from their homes.
Collet said in some places the fire has gotten into peat bogs where it could smoulder for some time and possibly re-ignite.
Early estimates had put the fire at about 80 hectares in size, but Collet said after aerial surveys that has been reduced to 50 hectares.
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He said there’s also an unburned area of close to 15 hectares in the middle of that 50 hectare burn area.
Collet said about 40 crew are working on the fire, looking for hotspots.
The area received only a sprinkling of rain last night, and he said a considerable amount of rain is needed to help reduce the fire risk across New Brunswick.
The entire province is under a ban on open burning.