The wildfires in British Columbia are on the rise as hot and sunny weather persists in the region. According to the latest data from the BC Wildfire Service, the number of active blazes has increased to 78, up from 68 the day before. Of these fires, 15 are currently burning out of control, signaling a concerning escalation in fire activity, particularly in the Cariboo region.
Authorities have issued reminders about open-burning prohibitions and campfire bans across various fire centres in the province ahead of the upcoming Labour Day weekend. In the Okanagan, a fire caused by a motorhome accident near Peachland has been contained at approximately 1.4 hectares, though it led to a power outage affecting nearly 700 homes.
While temperatures have slightly cooled in Metro Vancouver, heat warnings persist in parts of the southern Interior and the north coast. Forecasters predict temperatures as high as 38 C in the Fraser Canyon and South Thompson regions, with ongoing heat in Terrace and Kitimat areas.
Several temperature records have been broken in B.C. in recent days, with areas like Cache Creek, Kamloops, Lytton, Lillooet, and Clearwater experiencing record-breaking highs. The extreme heat continues to pose challenges for firefighting efforts and public safety across the province.