Over 5000 Lightning Strikes Hit B.C.’s Southern Interior

The storm clouds that rolled over much of B.C. on Monday evening sent down over 5000 lightning bolts in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Most of the lightning strikes were in the Kamloops and Salmon Arm areas. The Wildfire Management Branch is responding to eight new fires as a result of Saturday’s lightning, one of which is in the Okanagan, close to Big Goat Creek near Cherryville.

Though only eight fires have been discovered so far, more could be found as the ground gets drier. “We received a lot of precipitation that came through with the lightning, so that will keep the fires down until it dries out a little bit and then we’ll start to see those holdover strikes pop up,” said Fire Information Officer Kelsey Winter.

Firefighters are also hard at work on older wildfires in the area, including the Hunter Creek fire between Cawston and Richter Pass. This wildfire was 12 hectares on Sunday, but grew to 70 hectares on Monday. However, there has been no change in size since Monday, and as of Tuesday morning, it’s 40 per cent guarded.

Forty firefighters are at work on the Hunter Creek fire on Tuesday, as well as a helicopter tipping buckets of water onto the smouldering ground fire.

As for the Westbridge fire near Highway 33 and Rock Creek, it is now 40 per cent contained at 26 hectares, having not grown more overnight on Monday. The evacuation alert remains in effect for three homes in the area, affecting 10 people. Currently, 34 firefighters are at work at the lightning-caused blaze, as well two helicopters and three pieces of heavy equipment.

Fire activity at the Cisco Road fire on Saturday, June 27th. (Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Management Branch)

Hot and dry weather over the weekend did increase fire activity on the north flank of the Cisco Road fire near Lytton, pushing it to 2,174 hectares. This fire is 70 per cent contained, and previous evacuation alerts have been rescinded. The cause is still under investigation.

The dry conditions in the Interior have caused a campfire ban to be announced for the Kamloops Fire Centre and much of the province.

A thank you sign for the firefighters working on the blaze near Lytton. (Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Management Branch)