Most wildfires human-caused across British Columbia: forests minister

August 04, 2015 - 2:22 PM

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A spike in human-caused wildfires across British Columbia has the forests minister calling for more vigilance from the public.

Steve Thomson says only 18 of the 31 flare-ups over the long weekend were caused by lightning.

There are 140 fires currently burning in the province, out of the nearly 1,400 blazes that began this season.

B.C.'s chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek says hot, dry conditions will likely lead to an increase in wildfires over the next few days.

Campfire bans remain in place across most of southern B.C.

Firefighting efforts have cost the province almost $175 million since April, compared to nearly $130 million spent by this time last year.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2015

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