BC Wildfire Service personnel are responding to wildfires that were started by recent lightning activity in the Cariboo Fire Centre.

The largest of these fires is about 17 kilometres south of the Sheep Creek bridge over the Fraser River and covers about 20 hectares. Eleven firefighters are en route to this fire and a helicopter is supporting fire-suppression efforts.

The BC Wildfire Service thanks the public for the many fire reports it received after Monday’s lightning storm. More lightning activity is in the weather forecast for today. The BC Wildfire Service is conducting patrol flights throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre to confirm the location of reported fires and detect new ones that may have started in remote areas.

The patrols will continue this week, since lightning-caused fires can smoulder in wet conditions and only become visible when nearby combustible material dries out and ignites. These are called “holdover” fires.

For example, crews responded to one fire over the weekend that was started by lightning about 10 days before it was detected. The fire was 25 kilometres north of Forest Grove, covered 0.6 hectares and is now 100% contained. Crews are currently patrolling this fire to put out any remaining hot spots. This was the only wildfire in the Cariboo Fire Centre during the Williams Lake Stampede weekend.

To report smoke, flames or an unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.

For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1 888 3-FOREST.

You can follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Emily Epp
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665