Wildfires grow near Southend and McArthur River mine
The wildfire that forced over 700 people to flee the northern community of Southend last week has grown to more than 9,300 hectares in size, but is no closer to the community.
The so-called ‘Woods’ fire, which is burning south of the reserve, was measured at 5,500 hectares Friday but grew by roughly 70 per cent over the weekend.
Steve Roberts, with Wildfire Management, said the expansion was in the opposite direction, to the south and south east, which are not areas of concern.
“The key concern, from a threat perspective, are the access roads in and out of the community to the north and northeast of the fire,” Roberts told paNOW. “Those flanks have not grown; that’s where crews have been working.”