The number of wildfires in British Columbia continues to swell as thousands of lightning strikes hit the province as hot and dry weather persists.
The BC Wildfire Service says about 140 wildfires are burning across the province as of Sunday morning, a sharp rise from 68 on Wednesday.
The wildfire service says nearly 80 per cent of the active blazes were caused by lightning.
The service's latest situational report says there were nearly 4,400 lightning strikes recorded across B.C. on Friday and Saturday, mostly in the Cariboo and Coastal regions.
It says Kamloops, Prince George and Southeast Fire Centres also saw increased activity, and the northeast had poor air quality due to smoke from wildfires in the Northwest Territories.
Those conditions prompted Environment Canada to issue a special air-quality statement for the region, and it said the statement is expected to remain in effect for up to 48 hours.
The service said Saturday that the lightning potential is expected to diminish, and while temperatures will remain hot provincewide, the coast may manage to fare slightly better with some precipitation.
The service says about 40 per cent of the active wildfires in B.C. are burning out of control, about 20 are being held and more than 60 are classified as under control.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2025.
The Canadian Press
