A third of B.C.’s 200 wildfires are burning out of control Monday

There are nearly 200 wildfires burning in B.C. Monday morning and a third of them are considered to be burning out of control.

In the past two days, there have been 40 fires started with most of them caused by lightning.

There are currently 12 major wildfires burning with the majority of them in the Cariboo and Kamloops fire centres.

3:20 Preparing an emergency kit in case of wildfire

The biggest wildfire is the Sparks Lake wildfire, burning 15 kilometres north of Kamloops Lake and is out of control. The fire is suspected to be human-caused but is under investigation.

A wildfire has forced several people to flee their homes near Oliver and had led to a local state of emergency for the Osoyoos Indian Band.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen confirmed that some homes have been evacuated from the Osoyoos Indian Band but it could not confirm how many at this time.

2:09 Many B.C. residents on notice to evacuate as wildfires near

The fire started just off McKinney Road around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Several other properties in the area are under evacuation alert.

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The fire grew Sunday to about eight hectares in size, but is now believed to be contained.

2:15 Investigation underway into cause of deadly wildfire in Lytton, B.C.

The area around Canim Lake, east of 100 Mile House, is also on alert Monday as a wildfire is burning just two kilometres away from properties in the region.

An evacuation alert is already in effect for the Canim Lake area.

3:24 RCMP take lead in investigation into deadly Lytton fire

Nearby, the Deka Lake wildfire, which is estimated to be about 300 hectares, has already forced dozens of people from their homes.

The Cariboo Regional District has issued an evacuation order for 693 properties in the Deka Lake area. An additional evacuation alert has been issued for 153 properties in the Sulphurous Lake area.

1:34 Crews begin to assess Lytton devastation

The British Columbia RCMP says it has no current “active or ongoing” missing persons investigations in relation to the deadly fire that swept through Lytton, B.C. on June 30.

B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa LaPointe said there have been no additional reported deaths beyond the two the BC Coroners Service confirmed Saturday.

Police entered the village, much of which as been burned to the ground, for the first time on Saturday.

Police would not comment Sunday on the possibility a train passing through the village sparked the fire. Roberts said there was no timeline for the investigation, but pledged it would be “thorough.”

2:23 Smoky skies bulletin issued for Okanagan

Firefighting teams from Quebec and New Brunswick were set to arrive in B.C. on Monday to assist with the devastating blazes.

The nearly 100 out-of-province members must pass COVID-19 safety checks before being sent into the field, the BC Wildfire Service said.

Provincial fire information officer Jean Strong said the extra support will not only help boost morale, but allow firefighters to take much-needed breaks for their health.

“It’s certainly a relief to know that help is on the way,” she said.

Public Safety Canada has also committed the Armed Forces for airlift support to carry crews, supplies and equipment in and out of fire zones and to assist with emergency evacuations if needed, it said.

— With files from The Canadian Press