Concerns as lightning storms ignite new wildfires in B.C.

The wildfire situation in this province is ramping up with fresh worries the forecast won’t help crews battling flames on the frontlines.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says almost 80 new fires were sparked on Monday, bringing the provincial total to 362 active fires. According to the BCWS, the vast majority of new starts were sparked by dry lightning.

Some parts of the province are seeing a reprieve from the extreme heat we’ve been experiencing. However, CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss says that as areas move to more seasonal weather, conditions remain dangerous.

“As we work through that transition, we start to see cooler air plunging down from the north and at that mixing point the winds pick up. Active weather develops — that means rain, but most significantly with the wind, and thunderstorms. Over the next couple of days, it’s going to work down into central B.C., and eventually to the south as well.”

He adds the majority of central and southern B.C. have not seen a speck of rain all month and any rain that has fallen has been minimal.

“With some precipitation developing, we’re going to see active weather. We have that up in Peace Country today. It sinks to the south, although we’ll get cooling, that’s still a couple of days in the Interior, and farther to the east all the way across Alberta, where we’re concerned about fires as well.”

Kuss says an unsettled forecast can be concerning.

“Winds are going to pick up, fanning the flames of the fires already burning and lightning potentially with some active weather dipping through the province over the next couple of days, could develop and trigger more fires.”

The BCWS says there were 20,000 lightning strikes on Sunday along, with the majority in the province’s north. The Wildfire Service says a significant change in the weather could ramp up fire activity, as Environment and Climate Change Canada warns of severe thunderstorms in several parts of the province following weeks of hot and dry conditions.

“Severe lightning storms can affect fire response due to erratic winds impacting fire behavior and tree stability, downpours impacting dirt roads and possible impacts to aviation resources. The safety of our crews and the public is our top priority and this weather event is a factor in our planning and deployment of resources to respond to new and active wildfires,” the BCWS said in a statement.

The B.C. Ministry of Transportation says non-essential travel to the Interior is discouraged as wildfire activity has increased. It’s warning of potential highway closures and delays.

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