List of wildfires of note in BC has grown to 24

The list of so-called wildfires of note in BC has grown to 24 and includes five of the six fire centres in the province.

Only the coastal fire centre currently has no such fires, which are especially visible or pose a threat to public safety.

Environment Canada has issued a high heat warning for parts of the province, including the West Kootenays, the south Okanagan and Fraser Canyon regions, where daytime temperatures are forecast to hit up to 38 degrees Celsius today.

However, it says a heat wave in much of B-C is less aggressive than the recent one that hit historically high temperatures.

Much of central and eastern British Columbia is under a special weather bulletin warning of smoky skies, as hundreds of wildfires rage out of control in the province.