B.C. wildfires nearly triple in a day as lightning storms sweep the province

Lightning strikes have ignited dozens more wildfires across southern British Columbia.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said Friday morning that close to 40 new fires had started in the past 24-hours, with nearly 60 wildfires burning across the province. 

BCWS information officer Rick van Kesteren said the majority of the new fires across the province are lightning-caused, as storm systems move through the southern Interior and coastal regions. 

He said more lightning is anticipated in the next few days as the weather system pushes northward, but said some rain is also expected.

Van Kesteren said the BCWS has the resources available to handle the number of new fires popping up, with more than 500 firefighting personnel assigned across the province. 

Evacuation orders and alerts are in effect for hundreds of properties, including in the Boston Bar area where crews are fighting the more than 200-square-kilometre Brunswick Complex. 

The BCWS said in an update on Friday there had been several days of increased fire activity after a ridge of high pressure, but there was minimal fire growth overnight.

Cooler temperatures and more humidity were expected to help crews battling the blazes, but officials said strong wind gusts could cause more fire activity.

A section of Highway 1 north of Boston Bar has reopened to traffic, but BCWS cautioned that the situation could change as the wildfires burn on either side of the highway.

The Signal Hill wildfire has also prompted evacuation orders and alerts for the Pemberton area, about 20 kilometres northeast of Whistler.

The BCWS said Friday the out-of-control fire had grown to nearly one-square-kilometre, and smoke and flames were visible from Highway 99 and the surrounding communities. 

Premier David Eby said in Vancouver Friday the province would be providing all available support to the communities of Boston Bar and Pemberton.