Pilot injured after firefighting helicopter crashes into lake in South Cariboo

A pilot was taken to hospital with minor injuries after a firefighting helicopter crashed into a lake near 70 Mile House in B.C.’s South Cariboo region.

BC Wildfire Service said the aircraft went down Tuesday morning while operating on the Big Bar wildfire complex. The pilot was the helicopter’s only occupant.

The service, Transportation Safety Board and WorkSafeBC are investigating. Six major fires were burning in the Cariboo region, including the Pear Lake fire, which had grown beyond 1,240 square kilometres. Buildings and homes have been destroyed on 120 properties near 70 Mile House.