News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Forest-fire season in New Brunswick is now underway and ends Saturday, Oct. 31.

The 24-hour toll-free Burning Permit information line for Category 1 fires will operate throughout the forest-fire season. To find out whether burning is permitted at a particular place and time, except within cities and towns, residents should call 1-866-458-8080. For information about campfires and brushfires within cities and towns, residents should contact their local municipality for any restrictions that may apply.

The Department of Natural Resources encourages mulching, composting or hauling debris to a local landfill as alternate methods of disposal. A burning permit from the department is required for any fire larger than a Category 1.

Grass fires are a major concern in the early spring and can cause serious damage to agricultural and forested lands. Forest fire officials warn the public not to light grass fires in fields because they can quickly spread to nearby forests. People who deem it necessary to burn grass are required to submit a written burn plan to the department, have an inspection beforehand and then receive a written permit with departmental guidelines attached.

In 2014, 180 fires burned 113.3 hectares of forest land in New Brunswick. This was better than 2013, which had 356 fires which burned about 885 hectares of forest land. The 10-year average, prior to 2014, was 238 fires burning an average of 336.9 hectares per year.

The department uses water bombers to gather water from lakes and rivers for aerial firefighting and cautions boaters to listen for the siren and to move closer to the shoreline when the planes are skimming off a water source.

For further information, call 1-866-458-8080, go online or visit any Department of Natural Resources regional or district office.