An air tanker pilot escaped with minor injuries after his amphibious Fire Boss (a highly modified Air Tractor) crashed in Okanagan Lake in south central British Columbia Saturday. The unidentified pilot, who worked for Abbotsford-based Conair, was rescued by boaters. “The pilot was not injured to the extent that he was left incapacitated and was able to extricate himself,” Yearwood said. The pilot was taken to hospital where he’s being treated for minor injuries. The aircraft was one of six fighting the Terrace fire, which has grown to 45 square kilometers and forced the evacuation of 1,200 people, most of whom have returned home after rain dampened the fire overnight Friday.
Bruce Freeborn told the CBC he was working in his yard when he heard a loud bang. “Its nose was under [the water] and its tail section was still up and the tip of one wing was still up,” Freeborn said. The plane sank shortly afterward. Cause of the accident is being investigated.
