Two fires remain out of control in N.B. as heat warning remains

by Theresa Blackburn | Aug 13, 2025

Firefighters continue to work on the Irishtown fire near Moncton. There are 900 structures at risk in the area, and 1,500 people nearby have been put on evacuation alert. (GNB photo)

Relief in weather coming Thursday; government updating situation with news conference Wednesday afternoon

As of Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, two fires remain out of control in New Brunswick, with one growing by the hour. Overnight, the Oldfield Road fire near Miramichi grew from 1,120 hectares to 1,358 hectares. In Irishtown, near Moncton, the fire has remained at 45 hectares, which is down in size by approximately 10 hectares since Monday.

The Oldfield Road fire in Miramichi grew from 1,120 hectares to 1,358 hectares overnight. (GNB photo)

On the Wildland Reporting System Activity Report available on the Government of New Brunswick Fire Watch website, Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, it reported that 70 personnel were working on the Oldfield Road fire, with nine water bombers/air tankers and one helicopter. In Irishtown, 45 firefighters are on the ground with no aerial attack at this time.

Premier Susan Holt, Natural Resources Minister John Herron, and Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin will provide an update on the wildfire situation this afternoon, Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 2:30.

The province will inform the media and the public of the wildfire situation in New Brunswick during a news conference at 2:30 p.m. You can watch the livestream here.

While Environment Canada says residents can expect a break in the heat on Thursday, Wednesday’s forecast calls for temperatures between 33 and 37 degrees, with a humidex of between 38 and 43 degrees Celsius.

The Irishtown wildfire near Moncton is still listed as out of control, but has decreased in size since Monday. It’s now listed as 45 hectares in size. (GNB photo)

Due to the dry conditions, the province closed Crown lands to all activity on Saturday, Aug. 9. Logging and harvesting activities on Crown property are also restricted. The government has also asked private woodlot owners to follow suit. Trail systems throughout the St. John River Valley are also closed, with municipalities following the province’s suggestion to close wooded areas to reduce the risk of fire. Camping is only allowed in campgrounds.

As of Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, the government reported that 13 fires are being patrolled.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 4:30 p.m., the Oromocto Fire Department was dispatched to the Honeywood Drive area near Waasis after there were reports of smoke coming from the woods. In a social media post, the department said crews arrived to discover an active fire and quickly worked to put it out.

Oromocto Fire Department was called to a fire in Lincoln on Tuesdsay, Aug. 12, at 4:30 p.m. Other departments were called for mutual aid, and the wildfire was quickly extinguished. (Oromocto Fire Department photo)

Mutual aid was also requested, with support from the Fredericton Junction, Fredericton, New Maryland, and Hoyt Fire Departments, as well as members from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Teams were able to get the fire under control quickly, using 10,000 gallons of water. Since then, DNR crews have been on site, monitoring the area to ensure no reignitions.

For up-to-date information on the wildfire situation, you can visit www.gnb.ca/firewatch.