Numerous Air Tractor ‘Fire Boss’ airplanes and their pilots were the heroes in containing a wildfire burning in the Lakeland Ridges area, Fire Chief Mike Furrow said Tuesday morning.
Chief Furrow reported two wildfires, located at Grant Settlement and Jiggertown, burned roughly 25 hectares of forest. Firefighters from Lakeland Ridges Regional Fire Service, including Canterbury, Meductic, Debec, and North Lake, worked with aerial crews, scooping water from nearby lakes to prevent the blazes from spreading quickly.
“Air Tankers were definitely the Angels that made the difference today,” Chief Furrow said.
The New Brunswick Wildfire Map reports both the Grant Settlement Fire, roughly 20 hectares in size, and the four-hectare Jiggertown Fire is 100 percent contained. Canterbury firefighters were on the scene Tuesday and DNR will continue clean up over the next few days. Five members from North Lake Fire Department returned to the Jiggertown location Tuesday to mop up.
Lakeland Ridges Mayor Greg Grant praised the quick response from fire crews and community support for tamping down the fires.
“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all four Lakeland Ridges Fire Departments for their outstanding response to the recent forest fires in the Canterbury area.
“Through the professionalism, dedication, and courage of these highly trained firefighters, working alongside the provincial water bombers, the fires have been surrounded and, as of today, are largely contained, the mayor stated in a Facebook post.
“Thank you to everyone who delivered water, supplies, and equipment to the front lines, and to those who prepared meals, refreshments, and organized support at the Canterbury Recreation Centre. Your efforts ensured our firefighters had what they needed to continue protecting our community.
“Every fire that is contained has the potential to save homes, property, wildlife, and, most importantly, lives. Your commitment and teamwork have made a tremendous difference, and our community is deeply grateful,” the mayor concluded.
All of New Brunswick, except for a small sliver along the Bay of Fundy, is under a no-burn advisory.
