Over 130 new wildfires started after 40,000 lightning strikes in BC

BC Wildfire/Twitter

130 new wildfires in the province have left BC fire crews with their hands full.

The cause of the fires?

According to ECCC Weather BC and BC Wildfire Service, approximately 40,000 lightning strikes are to blame, all of which occurred over the past 30 hours.

We’re starting to see an uptick in #BCwildfire activity across #BC as a result of recent lightning. Pictured below is where it has struck over the past 24 hours.

Yesterday alone, 132 new wildfires started. As of this morning there are 305 fires across BC that we’re responding to pic.twitter.com/G9MWnY2l5L

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 1, 2018

Thunderstorms have been a menacing force with Prince George, Cariboo Chilcotin, Bulkley Valley, Williston, 100 Mile, and North Thompson, all under severe thunderstorm watch.

Fire danger ratings across southern BC currently sit between high to extreme.

Areas highlighted in yellow are under severe thunderstorm watch (Environment BC)

All active fires in BC (BC Wildfire Service)

In total, the fire crews across the province are responding to 305 fires, 132 of which began last night.

An evacuation order has been put in place for Cathedral Lakes Lodge, an area of the Cathedral Provincial Park in Slocan, BC.

93 properties along Quesnel Lake in Cariboo have been put into evacuation alert.

#Evacuation Alert for 93 properties along the S side of #Quesnel Lake. Issued by @CaribooRD For more details see Alert & map here: https://t.co/T8vew8Uddg #BCwildfire https://t.co/7GOMvuM3Ek

— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) August 1, 2018

At this time, there are 10 wildfires of note across British Columbia. Only one of them stemmed from yesterdays lightning storm.

The largest fire is the Snowy Mountain wildfire approximately 14 km south of Keremeos. Discovered on Tuesday, July 17, it is currently 6,155 hectares in size.

See also