Campfire ban extended across B.C.

The B.C. government plans to ban campfires, fireworks and any open fires across most of the province as the hot, dry conditions continue to stoke dozens of fires across the province.

Starting Thursday, the campfire ban will apply to all Crown land acrossthe province, except for the Kootenay region in the southeastern interior. A banis already in place for the southwest coastal region, except for the extreme West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Forests Minister Pat Bell said he is concerned about the number of human-caused fires.

"About 65 per cent of the fires this year are human-caused fires. That compares last year to only about 40 per cent," said Bell.

Those who ignore the rules risk some real consequences, he warned.

"If you ignore a campfire ban, you will be fined $345," said Bell. "If your recklessness causes a wildfire, you could be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be held responsible for fire suppression costs.

"Compliance and enforcement officers, including the RCMP, will be out in full force during the August long weekend."

There are currently about 27 significant wildfires burning across the province, but Forests Minister Pat Bell says the good news is forest fires are down this year compared to last and the government has spent less than half as much money fighting fires as it had spent by this time last year.

But Bell notes weather was a factor last year when hundreds of fires were sparked by a series of lightning storms that swept across the province in July.

Heat stokes wildfires in B.C. Interior

Fire officials in the southern Interior say thedry, hot weatherwill hamper firefighting efforts near Lillooet where an evacuation alert remains in effect for about 30 homes and ranches in the Yalakom Valley.

Crews battling the Jade wildfire in the Yalakom Valley said the flames are becoming increasingly intense and the six-square-kilometre fire is just 15 per cent contained.

Temperatures in the region are expected to soar to 36 C on Monday and Tuesday, complicating efforts to fight the fire, sparked by lightning on July 21.

The only clouds in the forecast are more likely to bring lightning storms that could start more blazes, according to Fire Information Officer Garry Horley.

Many areas of B.C. have received less than one millimeter of precipitation in the month of July, and extremely low humidity during the day means that small twigs and branches quickly lose any moisture that they've soaked up overnight.

"By two o'clock or three o'clock in the afternoon, when we're reaching our lowest relative humidity, that's when we see the increase in fire activity, said Horley.

Residents of roughly 30 farms and ranches in the area remain on evacuation alert but no properties have been lost.

Kelowna evacuation alert lifted

Meanwhile, crews fighting another fire north of West Kelowna had more success, and on Monday morning an evacuation alert for the area was lifted after fire officials said they have the blaze contained.

The fire broke out Sunday in the Bear Creek and Sailview Bay area and quickly spread over about two hectares, prompting the evacuation alert.

Several families decided to leave, but fire crews were able to encircle the area with fire retardant and hose lines by Sunday evening.

Another fire broke out on Vancouver's North Shore on Sunday night, but it was not endangering any homes.