New Brunswick is putting an immediate halt to forestry operations and asking all forest users to be extremely careful in the face of severe fire hazards in the province.
The restriction will include no harvesting, site preparation, forwarding or pre-commercial thinning between the hours of 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. The moratorium will go into effect at noon on Thursday.
READ MORE: New Brunswick fire crews knock down fire on Miscou Island, evacuation still in effect
“The fire hazard in our province is at the highest level that we have observed in more than 20 years,” said Rick Doucet, Energy and Resource Development Minister, in a press release. “The safety of New Brunswickers is our priority.”
Get daily National news
According to a press release, a number of companies voluntarily adopted the measures earlier this week.
The province is currently closed to all burning, including fires in fire pits and backyard fireplaces.
WATCH: New Brunswick firefighters head west to battle B.C. wildfire
- ‘Brutal winter’ leaves Toronto roads battered as city launches 3rd pothole blitz
- Former PM Joe Clark’s boyhood home hits the market for less than $1 million
- China denies forced labour allegations amid fallout from Michael Ma’s comments
- Family fighting to bring B.C. senior home after she fell into a coma in China
So far this year, a total of 98 wildfires have burned almost 124 hectares of forest land.
At the same point last year, 241 wildfires had consumed more than 224 hectares.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.