More than 7,000 lightning strikes spark new wildfires across B.C.

In British Columbia, over 7,000 lightning strikes ignited a series of new wildfires across the province yesterday. The BC wildfire service attributes the strikes to a subtropical weather system that brought hot conditions to most of the region. As a result, approximately 50 new fires were recorded in the past 24 hours, with all of B.C.'s southern fire centers affected.

However, the province is currently experiencing heavy rainfall, which has helped control many of the newly ignited fires. The wildfire service warns that hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected to return this week, increasing the likelihood of additional wildfires caused by lightning. These holdover fires can smolder undetected until the weather changes, leading to more noticeable smoke.