HALIFAX — An evacuation order in the West Dalhousie area of Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley was expanded late Thursday after a lightning strike ignited nearby woodlands the night before and triggered an intense, out-of-control wildfire.

The County of Annapolis expanded the area covered by an evacuation order that was first issued on Thursday morning and covered about 40 homes.

Some residents in the West Dalhousie Road area had to leave immediately as flames from the Long Lake fire advanced to within several kilometres of their homes.

The fire was an estimated four square kilometres in size.

Across the province, more than 130 wildfires have broken out this season amid drought-like conditions, with 11 currently burning.

Meanwhile, a wildfire on the western outskirts of Halifax that had p

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