New Brunswick Faces Spreading Wildfires, Evacuations Looms

Irish Town Area Residents on High Alert Amidst Growing Blaze

Thousands of residents in New Brunswick’s Irish Town area are on standby, with provincial officials warning them to be prepared for immediate evacuation due to an escalating forest fire. The blaze, which has grown significantly, is now a primary concern due to its proximity to populated areas.

“Ready to Evacuate on Short Notice”

Minister of Public Safety, Robert Gauvin, issued a stark warning, stating, People from Irishtown, Tankville, Évangéline and Lakeville should be ready to evacuate on short notice. He assured the public that the government would utilize all available communication channels, including television, radio, and digital platforms, to disseminate any necessary evacuation orders.

The fire near Irish Town currently covers approximately 45 hectares, an increase from earlier reports. This is one of three significant fires currently burning out of control across the province. Another, larger fire is raging near Miramichi, spanning around 450 hectares, while a third new fire has been reported near Bathurst.

Resources Diverted as Population Centers Threatened

While the Miramichi fire is the largest, the Irish Town blaze presents a greater immediate risk due to its location. Minister of Natural Resources, John Herron, highlighted the urgency, noting that Around Irishtown that the the area of concern that particular polygon has as many as 900 structures in that region. That potentially could an estimated 1,500 persons. Consequently, provincial resources have been redirected to combat this encroaching threat.

People in the Irishtown, Tankville, Evangeline and Lakeville areas should be prepared to evacuate on short notice.
A wildfire poses a potential threat to people and property.
Review your evacuation plan. Make sure your emergency preparedness kit is ready.
An Evacuation Alert will… pic.twitter.com/GWfHeoJaCH

— NBEMO / OMUNB (@NBEMO_OMUNB) August 10, 2025

Inter-Jurisdictional Firefighter Support Requested

The province’s wildfire situation has intensified, with 14 active fires reported as of Wednesday afternoon. In response, New Brunswick has sought assistance from neighboring regions. Minister Herron stated, For the first time, I believe ever, we’ve actually requested boots on the ground from our neighbors. An attack unit of 20 firefighters from Nova Scotia and a five-person strike team from Prince Edward Island are en route, along with five firefighters from Maine.

The province has implemented a ban on public access to Crown Lands, prohibiting all industrial and recreational activities due to extreme dry conditions. Premier Susan Holt has urged private landowners to follow suit and noted that two individuals have been ticketed for disregarding the burn ban.

Rain Offers Limited Respite

While rain is forecasted for the week, wildfire prevention officer Roger Collet cautioned that it may not be sufficient to fully extinguish the blazes. It’s going to help but we’re going to need a lot of rain and prolonged. Even though we may get 20 ml , it’s not going to be enough to stop all of this. Premier Holt echoed this sentiment, hoping for substantial rainfall to combat the widespread fires.

New Brunswick is experiencing a heat warning, with temperatures expected to reach up to 35 C, feeling as high as 43 C with humidex values. This severe heat exacerbates the wildfire risk. For comparison, over 5,000 wildfires were active across Canada in early July 2023, impacting millions of hectares (Canadian Wildland Fire Information System).

An interactive map displays the current wildfire situation across Canada, illustrating the scale of the ongoing challenge.