A forest fire that forced hundreds of evacuations and destroyed a home in southwest New Brunswick remained out of control on Monday afternoon, though officials said they were hopeful things would soon change.
The fire raging near the towns of Bocabec and Chamcook was being pummelled from above by seven water bombers, while crews from 13 different fire departments in the region attacked the flames from the ground, said Kevin Theriault, chief of the fire department in Saint Andrews, N.B. The flames had stopped spreading upwards into the trees, and were instead smouldering close to the ground, he said.
Crews hoped to have the fires under control later on Monday or some time on Tuesday, Theriault told reporters, adding: “But this will be a long, drawn-out firefight for everybody for hot spots.”
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said it was “a very extreme situation,” adding that the province had seen an “unprecedented” number of fires so far this year.
Theriault said crews got a call on Sunday at about 1:30 p.m. about an all-terrain vehicle fire in Chamcook. When they arrived, they found the ATV ablaze and the flames spreading into the woods. Propelled by winds and parched conditions, the fire quickly leapt “from hilltop to hilltop to hilltop,” he said.
“The fire travelled too fast to be controlled, and we ended up with the situation we’re in now with a major forest fire on our hands in Chamcook and Bocabec,” Theriault said. He estimated the fire covered about two square kilometres as of Monday morning.
Saint Andrews, N.B., Mayor Brad Henderson said earlier Monday that officials had evacuated about 400 homes, but Theriault said that figure was likely between 250 and 300. The fire chief said evacuees won’t be able to return to their homes on Monday night, but he was hopeful they’d get to go home some time on Tuesday.
The fire destroyed one home, but Theriault said the people and animals that lived there are safe. There were other homes that became surrounded by flames, but crews were able to save them, he said.
The arena in Saint Andrews is open as an emergency centre for those who need food, shelter or somewhere to charge their phones.
There were 12 fires burning across New Brunswick on Monday, according to the province’s latest fire activity summary.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2023.
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