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Lightning Storm Triggers Multiple Wildfires in Kamloops Fire Centre

A recent lightning storm that swept through the Kamloops Fire Centre overnight from Sunday to Monday resulted in 147 lightning strikes, igniting several wildfires in the region.

According to Taylor Shantz, Information Officer with the BC Wildfire Centre, crews are currently conducting aerial surveys to assess the situation and respond to the fires. “We are currently flying (over) a lot of those fires to get proper tracks on them and to start to respond,” Shantz explained on Monday.

Several fires, particularly in the North Okanagan Shuswap area, have already received attention from firefighting teams. However, the full extent of the situation is expected to become clearer over the coming days.

The weather forecast for Monday suggests continued potential for sporadic lightning, particularly in the Vernon area. “The forecast for (Monday) is looking like a bit of the same again, potentially some sporadic lightning throughout the Vernon area heading into this evening and again those warming trends heading into tomorrow,” Shantz noted.

Fortunately, the lightning was accompanied by some precipitation, which may have mitigated fire activity to an extent. “Lightning arrived with a little bit of precipitation, which tends to knock down the fire behaviour,” Shantz remarked.

However, as temperatures rise throughout the day, fire activity is expected to intensify. Shantz cautioned, “As we warm up in the afternoon, we will start to see those columns stand up and fires will be a little bit more visible.”

Current Wildfire Situation

At present, there are four notable wildfires being monitored in the Kamloops Fire Centre. A notable wildfire is classified as one that poses significant visibility or threat to the public, and Shantz confirmed that crews are making encouraging progress in managing these fires.

Looking ahead, the weather is predicted to be somewhat cooler than in recent weeks, which could assist with firefighting efforts. However, Shantz emphasized that conditions remain challenging, largely due to ongoing drought issues. “Because of the back-to-back years of drought with the current warming trend, it is relatively easy for new fires to ignite,” she stated.

Public safety remains a priority, and Shantz encouraged community members to exercise caution when venturing into backcountry areas. She also mentioned the utility of the BC wildfire app, which allows users to report sightings of wildfires and share photos that can aid firefighting operations. “The app allows people to include photos which is helpful to BC Wildfire’s operations team in deploying resources,” she said.

Source
globalnews.ca