Unseasonably high temperatures, brisk winds and dry grasses, leaves and other debris cause fires to spread quickly at this time of year. Those factors, combined with careless people who burn grass and debris in the spring, can cause countless problems for municipal fire departments and DNRE fire fighters.
Wildfires can also threaten people's homes and destroy wildlife habitat.
So far this year, DNRE has responded to 84 wildfires which have burned 213 hectares of forest land. Last year at this date, there were 72 fires which burned 64 hectares. The ten-year average to this date is 88 fires and 496 hectares. Burning permits are required by anyone who wants to burn debris. Many municipalities in New Brunswick do not allow burning within their boundaries.