FREDERICTON (GNB) – With another wildfire season beginning soon, a new program – FireSmartNB – is educating people about changes they can make to better protect their homes and communities.
“Everyone has a role to play in wildfire prevention and protection,” said Natural Resources Minister John Herron. “Our changing climate is putting us all at risk, with some areas of the province at higher risk than others due to a number of factors, such as their location in more heavily forested areas.”
Herron encourages people to visit the FireSmartNB website for more information, including which types of plants and trees are more fire-resistant than others and tips to lower the risk of wildfire damage to your home.
“From what we have seen across Canada and the United States in recent years, no one is safe from wildfires,” said Herron. “We have been fortunate in New Brunswick, so far, but we must all do our part to protect our firefighters and our province.”
A team from the department’s wildfire branch will be promoting the program at events this summer with a FireSmartNB display and educational materials.
The official start of wildfire season is April 21. New Brunswickers are asked to check burning conditions by calling 1-866-458-8080 or visiting the department’s Forest Fire Watch website.
Wildfire prevention officers encourage people to continue enjoying the outdoors while being vigilant with backyard firepits, motorized vehicles and hunting, fishing and camping activities. They also rely on New Brunswickers to report fires so that action can be taken quickly.
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