214 fires now confirmed to be burning across BC: BC Wildfire Service

The BC Wildfire Service says 214 fires are now confirmed to be burning across BC, 92 of them sparked so far this week as lightning, parched conditions and a continuing heat wave create an extreme fire risk across most of the province.

More than three dozen fires were sparked overnight and at least 24 of them are being blamed on thunderstorms that remain in the forecast.

Heat warnings also remain posted for the inland north coast region and several parts of the central and southern Interior, including the Lytton area where most of the village was destroyed by flames last week.

Air quality has also been affected by wildfire smoke and the weather office says those conditions will cover the northeastern corner and most of central BC for the next 24 to 48 hours.