Sask. wildfires cause gold mine evacuation, but unlikely to shut down power plant [Video]

SaskPower says it’s unlikely the wildfire near the remote community of Sandy Bay will significantly impact operations at the nearby power station.

The Flanagan fire has tripled in size over the past two weeks, spanning 32,856 hectares, which is almost double the size of Regina (17,881 ha.), according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA).

It continues to threaten the communities of Sandy Bay and Island Falls and the SaskPower Hydroelectric Power Station, which supplies a majority of the power in the area.

“We’ve taken steps to reduce fire hazards in and around the facility. We’ve set up fire suppression sprinklers on and around the building,” said Joel Cherry, a spokesperson with SaskPower.