Fire in Petitcodiac region contained
Posted May 8, 2013 09:46:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PETITCODIAC, NB–The scenery goes through a definite transition as you enter an area that was hit with a large forest fire yesterday afternoon.
Our Reporter Jason Chevrier is in the Petiticodiac area this morning, a day after a forest fire forced residents from their homes, and destroyed almost 200 hectares of land.
He says driving along Middlesex Road, in one area, there is still a lot of green grass and trees, but approaching what looks like was one of the hardest hit parts, he describes it as eerie.
“Standing outside two of the destroyed mobile homes that the fire swallowed yesterday, nothing is left of either home but charred metal and a children’s play set and bicycle that somehow escaped the flames. The haze in this area is thick, virtually blocking out the sun. You would think it is a cloudy, drizzly day except for the strong smell of smoke in the air.”
Several fire departments from across the region fought the blaze yesterday. They managed to contain the blaze, and it has now moved further into the forest and away from homes and other structures.
The Department of Natural Resources remains on the scene.
Wildfire Prevention Officer Charles Beaulieu says with the conditions forecasted for today, everyone remains on alert.
“We’re expecting today to be similar to yesterday, with high winds and temperatures. So any fire that starts is going to cause us some concern. Today is a day of caution, and we’re going to be taxed because we have several crews working on several fires, and we don’t need any new fires that would spread our manpower out more than it already is.”
Evacuation alerts have been called off, and residents are able to return home. But many say they are staying put, until they know for sure that the fire is out.
