On Friday, firefighters in Nova Scotia continued to battle a fire in the Annapolis Valley that has forced 42 homes to be evacuated.

The fire, which is in the Long Lake area, is one of 11 across the province, including several in the area.

It was started by a lightning strike on Wednesday night and has grown to 406 hectares, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

The fire in the Annapolis Valley grew rapidly because the flames reached the tops of the trees, a phenomenon known as crowning.

“The whole tree is burning as the flame front is advancing,” said Scott Tingley, the Natural Resources Department’s manager of forest protection. “It poses additional challenges in terms of fire suppression.”

The DNR says two other fires in the area — Hoyt Lake, which is around one hectare,

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