My thoughts and prayers to the family.
KAMLOOPS, B.C. (CP) - A helicopter pilot died Sunday as he fought one of the many forest fires that continued to force evacuations across the province.
The crash occurred shortly after the helicopter lifted off from a staging area about 80 kilometres east of 100 Mile House while fighting the Bonaparte Lake fire, north of Kamloops. It was then seen banking back to the staging area before witnesses lost sight of it on the horizon. That was followed by the sound of an explosion and smoke, said RCMP Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre. The Bell 205 helicopter, owned by Gemini Helicopters in Alberta, was on contract and was occupied only by the pilot, a Mission resident, who died at the scene, said Lemaitre.
RCMP attempted to reach the crashed helicopter but tinder dry conditions around the crash site were quickly engulfed in flames, preventing officers from getting to the site, he said.
Recovery efforts were to resume Monday morning. The pilot's name has not been released.
