Page 16 - C Interior News Today

The alert is for properties along Round Lake Road, Grandview Flats Road and Highway 97A. The fire is believed to have been started by lightning.

The BC Wildfire Service says there more than 7,000 lightning strikes on Friday.

Sechelt was one of the five communities to set a new daily heat record on July 5, as it reached 31.5 C, eclipsing the old mark of 31.4 C set in 2015.

“We take these incidents seriously and are looking to hold those involved responsible,” said Cpl. Michael Gauthier.

“I'm very concerned — all our fire crews are very concerned about the potential fire conditions,” said Kelowna Fire Department fire prevention officer Paul Johnson.

Park visitors should avoid the burned area and follow sanctioned trails to ensure their safety and to help reduce the fire risk.

Conditions are favourable for storms that could produce strong gusts, large hail and heavy rain. The alert includes the Nicola, South Thompson, Cariboo and Prince George regions.

The fire is located southwest of Armstrong, near a cell tower on Grandview Mountain.

Due to a nearby fire requiring emergency resources and some questionable weather this Canada Day, the Kelowna fireworks were canceled.

A re-instated campfire ban applies to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise by local government.