Number of active wildfires in B.C. jumps to 120, with half started in last 24 hours

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia continues to spike after high temperatures and lightning strikes this week, with about 120 blazes burning in the province.

The BC Wildfire Service said Friday that half of the fires had been started since late Wednesday as lightning storms swept across the province. 

The wildfire service says the Cariboo Fire region in central B.C. saw more than 1,200 lightning strikes Wednesday, which started 13 new fires in the area.

A wildfire south of Lytton, B.C., has been measured at just over 12-square kilometres in size and an evacuation order for Lytton First Nation remains in place because of the blaze. 

The wildfire service says the fire is highly visible from Highway 1, and motorists are asked to use extra caution and be aware of the surroundings while passing through.

Evacuation orders also remain in place for homes near Peachland in the Okanagan and near Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island.

However, the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says in an update that crews are assessing the conditions around the Drought Hill wildfire near Peachland and they appear "favourable" enough that evacuation orders for the remaining 118 homes could be lifted Friday. 

On Wednesday, police and fire crews went door-to-door to rush residents out from 400 properties threatened by the fast-moving wildfire. 

The wildfire service says heat warnings have ended for much of the province and there's a small chance of isolated showers, but dry conditions mean fuel on the ground remains ripe for ignition.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck