Southend wildfire grows to 3,000 hectares
The wildfire burning near the northern community of Southend, forcing hundreds to flee, has quickly grown and now covers 3,000 hectares, or 30 square kilometres.
The blaze, labelled the ‘Woods’ wildfire, is currently 13 kilometres away from the community at the south end of Reindeer Lake.
The leaders of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation reserve ordered a general evacuation Tuesday after the fire was first reported Monday afternoon.
Scott Wasylenchuk, with the Ministry of the Environment, said the blaze broke out in a very remote area with a lot of uninterrupted forest surrounding it.