(IDEX Online) - Stornoway Diamond Corporation reports that operations at the Renard Diamond Mine have been temporarily suspended due to a local forest fire.
As at 06.30 EST on Monday, the fire was located 12.6 kilometres south of the Renard Mine, but just 3.6 kilometres south of the Clarence and Abel Swallow Airport and within 0.1 kilometre of the mine's access road. It covers an area of 18 kilometres by 6 kilometres and is being fanned by northerly winds.
While mine facilities are in no immediate danger, the location of the fire means that access to the site is affected. For precautionary reasons, non-essential staff are being evacuated and road deliveries suspended until normal safe working conditions can be re-established.
Rain and a change in wind direction is forecast in the next 24 to 48 hours. Stornoway said it will provide further updates as they become available.