Lightning sparks surge in B.C. wildfires as more than 100 fires burn across province

British Columbia is experiencing a sharp increase in wildfire activity following widespread lightning strikes across the province.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the number of active wildfires climbed from about 20 on Wednesday morning to more than 100 by the weekend. As of Monday, 102 wildfires were burning across the province, including 12 that were discovered within the previous 24 hours.

The agency said approximately 40 per cent of the active wildfires are classified as out of control. Most of the fires are located in B.C.'s Southern Interior region, where firefighting efforts continue.

The B.C. Wildfire Service has designated four incidents as Wildfires of Note, including the Ainslie Creek and Brunswick Creek wildfires near Boston Bar, both of which have remained active for several days.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, 80 of the 102 active wildfires were caused by lightning, while 14 were determined to be human-caused. The cause of the remaining eight fires is still under investigation.