Heat and lightning over the long weekend have led to a rise in wildfires in southern B.C.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, there were 41 active wildfires across the province, as of this morning, including 18 in the Kamloops Fire Centre.
Twenty-five of those fires are suspected to be caused by lightning, another five are suspected to be human-caused, and 11 other fires have the cause listed as “unknown.”
The Dry Lake wildfire is the most significant blaze burning anywhere in B.C., located north of Princeton and just west of Highway 5A. The wildfire service says it’s estimated at 22 hectares in size, and it’s the only wildfire “of note” in the province.
That fire has led to 43 properties being placed on evacuation alert by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, which are on Highway 5A and Round Lake Road. A list of affected properties can be found here.
A fire next to the Coldwater Road exit next to the Coquihalla Highway, pictured above, was a visual distraction for drivers on Monday between Hope and Merritt. That fire grew to 3.8 hectares large but is now “under control” according to the BCWS.
There are three spot fires burning west of Merritt, all currently estimated to be 0.01 hectares. The Jack Swartz Road fire is “under control” and the Manning Creek Forest Service Road fire is “being held,” while the Skahun Bridge fire is considered out of control.
East of Kamloops, the Robbins Range Road fire is listed as 0.01 hectares, and the Mount Boysse fire just outside of Chase is one hectare in size and “under control.”
NL News will update this story with any pertinent information, as needed, about existing wildfires in the region.