VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the number of active blazes in the province has nearly doubled since mid-week as hot and dry conditions persist alongside the potential for more lightning starts.
It says about 130 wildfires are burning across the province as of Saturday, climbing from just 68 on Wednesday.
The wildfire service says more than 50 active fires are out of control, and lightning caused about 70 per cent of them.
It says in a social media post that there were about 650 lightning strikes in the Kamloops Fire Centre on Friday, and 15 new fire starts in the past 24 hours — three of which remain out of control — are believed to be lightning-caused.
The service's latest situational report says there is potential for more strikes in the southern half of the province as temperatures increased by a few degrees in the past day.
It says a scattered rain forecast in the southeast and coastal regions could bring more lightning strikes that spark new fires in the eastern Cariboo region, as well as the Pemberton Zone and Manning Park.
The service says the lightning potential is expected to diminish on Sunday, and while temperatures will remain hot provincewide, the coast may manage to fare slightly better with some precipitation.
It says slightly cooler weather in the north will make fires less conducive to growth.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2025.
The Canadian Press
