Firefighters in Nova Scotia continue the ongoing battle to extinguish wildfires.

In an update on Saturday afternoon, Director of Fleet and Forest Protection Jim Rudderham stated there were 15 active wildfires.  Two had been brought under control since the day before, but they also responded to four more fires.

The Susie’s Lake fire was one of the ones brought under control, and Rudderham said they were making very good progress.

Public Information Officer Dave Steeves stated the Hoyt Lake fire had also been brought under control.

The Long Lake fire, on the other hand, grew to 807 hectares, which Steeves said is a significant growth. He added that it had to do with wildland development and the fact that relative humidity dropped, and it also meant the potential for more growth was very real.

“Firefighters are doing their best to hold it where it is safe.”

He added that fire mixed with wind can create explosive situations.

Two helicopters and 40 DNR staff from volunteer stations were assisting to get the fires under control.

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Rudderham also offered an update on the pilot of a DNR helicopter that crashed while fighting an out-of-control wildfire.  It went down in Five Finger Lake.

He stated the pilot is doing well, but they were not revealing further details for privacy reasons.