A helicopter engaged in firefighting efforts in Nova Scotia crashed into a lake on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. local time in Annapolis County, where the helicopter was working to combat the Long Lake wildfires.

According to the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, the pilot was the only person on board and was found conscious and communicating with firefighters who quickly arrived at the scene. By 6 p.m., the pilot was rescued and taken for medical evaluation.

The department has chosen not to disclose the pilot's name to respect their privacy. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston expressed relief over the pilot's swift rescue, stating, "I’m relieved the pilot was rescued quickly and wish them a speedy recovery. Thank you to everyone who responded so quickly to reach the aircraft and provide support."

The helicopter was part of a larger firefighting operation in the Annapolis Valley, where approximately 50 homes have been evacuated due to the ongoing wildfire. Dave Steeves, a spokesperson for the Long Lake Wildfire, noted that there had been extreme fire behavior in the area recently. He mentioned, "Our flame lengths were quite high, which is an indicator to basically how dangerous the situation is that our crews were dealing with on the ground. Things have dropped back a little bit, but there is still the potential for things to get dangerous very, very quickly."

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Transport Canada has been notified and will conduct an inquiry into the incident, with the Department of Natural Resources pledging full cooperation.