Specific activities, with fire safety plans, now permitted
Some businesses will be allowed to resume operations on Crown lands under strict conditions.
“While our top priority continues to be safety, we recognize the need to support the return of operations by industry on Crown lands,” said Natural Resources Minister John Herron. “Many New Brunswick businesses rely on our Crown forests. These firms employ many New Brunswickers. We have struck the right balance between assisting these companies and protecting our forests. Starting today, specific industry activities – with appropriate conditions to mitigate fire and safety risks – will be permitted to operate. This will ensure certain industries will not face a full shutdown.”
To ensure the ongoing operations of the forestry sector, specific activities with appropriate conditions to mitigate fire and safety risks will be permitted. Forestry businesses are asked to contact the Department of Natural Resources (1-833-301-0334) should they have questions.
Each business will require a permit and must adhere to rules regarding work location, operating conditions, hours of operation, fire equipment and fire-watch activity. For example, tree harvesting will be allowed between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. No activity will be allowed in an active fire zone.
As of this afternoon, there are 31 fires in New Brunswick, and four are out of control. While industry will be allowed to resume some operations on Crown lands, a restriction on other activities will remain. This includes all recreational activities, including campfires and the use of all-terrain vehicles.
New Brunswickers are encouraged to monitor the department’s Fire Watch page, and there is also a phone line to address forest fire-related questions: 1-833-301-0334.
“We appreciate the patience of New Brunswickers during this critical time,” said Herron.
