A water bomber from Newfoundland and Labrador has joined Nova Scotia's ground and air crews to fight an out-of-control wildfire near Horseshoe Lake, Yarmouth County.

Ground crews pulled back as the CL-415 bomber dropped water until dark Tuesday night.

The fire has grown quickly with Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNRR) estimates increasing from 50 hectares Tuesday morning to over 1,000 hectares that night.

The water bomber joins two helicopters and 12 provincial fire crew members from Shelburne and Yarmouth counties who have been fighting the wildfire since Monday. DNRR officials say winds and low humidity are factors in the spread of the fire.

Yarmouth area residents are encouraged to keep their windows closed as smoke from the growing fire has prompted air quality alerts. Conditions are very dry across the province, and a burn ban is in place for Queens, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.

Nova Scotians should check burn restrictions online or call the toll-free phone line at 1-855-564-2876 (BURN) before starting a fire.

DNRR will be providing regular updates on the Yarmouth forest fire on their Twitter feed.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.