B.C. fires: Lightning expected to increase fire activity in B.C.
More than two thirds of the province's 123 wildfires have been caused by lightning
British Columbia's firefighters aren't likely to catch a break any time soon.
Although cooler, wetter weather in recent days brought down the fire danger rating, it's sparking back up again with lightning in the forecast.
"What we're starting to see now is kind of a return to the warm and dry conditions in the south," said B.C. Wildfire Service fire information officer Ryan Turcot.
"The coast is expected to see some rain. We're expecting to see lightning activity start to increase over the next few days pretty much province-wide."
The fire danger rating for most of B.C. was low on Saturday, but in the south it ranged from moderate to high. Some pockets including southeast Vancouver Island had an extreme rating, meaning fires could start easily and spread rapidly.
Wildfire shuts down Highway 3
A grass fire shut down Highway 3 in both directions about eight kilometres west of Keremeos in the southern Interior for several hours on Saturday.
The service sent three firefighters to help local crews, who swiftly got the small blaze under control.
Fire information officer Kelsey Winter said the blaze is under investigation but is believed to be human-caused.
Drive B.C. said the highway had reopened fully on Saturday afternoon.
Skookumchuk wildfire ignites near Cranbrook
Firefighters said they're battling a new wildfire north of Cranbrook.
Fire information officer Karlie Shaughnessy said the fire started Saturday afternoon next to Highway 93 about six kilometres south of Skookumchuk, B.C.
On Sunday evening she said 18 crews, one helicopter and two pieces of heavy equipment were attacking the blaze, estimated at 25 hectares.
Shaughnessy said there are homes in the area, but they're not currently threatened.
Over 1,400 fires so far this year
There are 123 fires currently burning in the province, of which 87 were sparked by lightning, 30 were caused by humans and the remainder are still being investigated.
The B.C. Wildfire Service has spent about $185 million fighting more than 1,400 fires this season, up from $156 million at this time last year, said Turcot.
Among the most significant fires is the Wood Lake blaze burning 20 kilometres north of Harrison Hot Springs. The flames have devoured more than 13 square kilometres since August 2.
No homes or structures are at risk from the fire, which is spreading northward away from the community. There is heavy smoke in the area.
With files from CBC