'Like walls of flames': Miscou forest fire hasn't grown but still 'out of control'

A forest fire on New Brunswick's MiscouIsland wasstill considered out of control as of 8 p.m.,but didn't grow Monday the way some fire officials originally feared, a ranger said.

"We haven't had to call on any aerial support," said Roland Roy, provincial forest rangerand incident commander for the fire.

"Everything is looking good, a lot better than it did yesterday afternoon,"

He said firefighters have kept the fire within a certain area,but "wehaven't been able to close that loop yet."

The fire started around 4 p.m. Saturday and has forced the evacuation of 25 homes, although they were not in immediate danger Monday, officials said.

Once the first few trees ignited, you're talking about 30-foot flames, almost like walls of flames.- Paul Hamilton, cottager

Roy said the terrain is difficult to map but an estimated 50 hectares are burning on Miscou,asmall island of about 500 people at the end of the Acadian Peninsula in northeastern New Brunswick.

People were allowed back in their homes on Sunday but only to gather a few personalbelongings.

Roy said there were no further evacuationson Monday and hedoesn'tforesee the need for any.

But firefighters are finding it difficult to work in places where trees died after theice storm earlier this year, Roy said.

The team is looking for additional help fighting the fire.

• Miscou Island forest fire forces evacuation of 25 homes

"The boys are starting to get tired," Roy said. "We had a few fires prior to this, we had a few lightening strikes that we were fighting.We've been going pretty steady."

Firefighters returning from B.C. fires

Greg Furlotte, another forest ranger and chief of logistics for the fire, said fire personnel has beenbrought in from all over the province "right from Saint John to Saint-Quentin."

He also said that some firefighters were returning to the province after fighting fires in British Columbia.

"The guys that came back from fighting fires, which belonged to the province of New Brunswick, are returning back to New Brunswick. They had their days off and they've been re-established back on the line here."

Asked whether the light rain that fell Monday evening made any difference, Furlotte said no.

"We need a couple of days of rain. Steady rain. Not hard rain, but the rain that soaks into the ground. That's really what we need," he said.

Dry weather

Marie-JoseChiasson, theMiscoufire chief, said dry weather and the trees that fell in theJanuarystorm helped the fire grow.

"We're doing everything in our power to save houses and kill that fire," she said."We're not going to give up until the fire is out."

RogerCollet, the provincial fire prevention officer, wasn't certain how the fire startedbut said earlier that it appears ashed or garage caught fire,and the flames spread tothe woods.

Paul Hamilton and his wifeFrancie, whohave a cottage on Miscou, were sitting on their front porch when they first smelled smoke Saturday night.

"Smelling smoke in our area, that's not a good sign," PaulHamilton said. "Immediately, it just seemed strange, it was a significant amountof smoke."

He quickly jumped into his car and followed the smoke, where the tops oftrees were igniting each other in the flames.

"Very quickly the shed spread to the grass, the grass spread to the first trees," Hamilton said. "Once the first few trees ignited, you're talking about 30-foot flames, almost like walls of flames."

He said the local fire department was ordering people out of their houses, so he gathered a few clothes and prescription drugs and left. He didn't have enough time to collect his toothbrush.

Right now, the couple are staying with friends and have confidence in those battling the blaze.

"We've neverexperiencedthis before," Hamilton said. "I've never seen a forest fire, I've never been closeto it it's pretty scary."

Collet said the fire calmed down overnight Saturday and picked up again on Sunday.

This time of year because of the dry conditions, the lightning can hide in the ground for a couple of days before we event notice it.-RogerCollet

Johnny Stewart,the president ofMiscou's local service district, said the road at Point Wilson is still closed off.

Authorities have no idea when residents will be allowedhome for good and aretaking it "day by day," he said.

Marie-AndreBolduc, a spokesperson with NB Power, said the utility was working with the fire crews on Sunday night and had to turn off electricity for a while to about30 customers.

"We are working closely with the fire department on scene and will interrupt the power if required as the situation unfolds."

Needmore rain

Over the past few weeks, Bolducsaid, the island hasseen hot, dry weather, with a lot of wind.

"Wind is a big factor on fighting the fires for sure."

The island is expected to see showers andthundershowers throughout the day, which presents the risk of lightning making things worse.

Bolduc said lightning can strike tall trees and follow the stem into the ground, where it can cause things tosmoulderin the ground for days, until itresurfaces, finding fuel in wind, igniting morefire.

"The showers themselves will do some good," Bolduc said. "But it also gives the opportunity for lightning strikes to hit the ground.

Additional help

Collet said there's about 50 people were fighting the fireon the ground, and more firefighters are heading in today.

"You can only put so many people on the lines and get some work done," he said.

The island also receivedhelp from two water bombers based in Quebec fromNewfoundland and Labrador.

Six New Brunswick air tankers were flown in over the weekend.

The entire province has beenunder a no burn order since1:35 p.m. Sunday.