Wildfires

Wildfires - British Columbia, Canada

The B.C. Wildfire Service says more than 100 new, mostly small, blazes started after lightning storms rolled across the province Wednesday.

Chief fire information officer Kevin Skrepnek says 113 fires have recorded, most of them due to lightning, and more fires are expected because a severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect across most of the B.C. Interior. He says erratic winds have the potential to fan existing fires or hamper aircraft trying to get crews or equipment to the flames, but there is also the possibility of heavy rain.

Wildfires - Washington, USA

The state Fire Marshall mobilized statewide resources early Thursday morning to fight a wildfire burning across 2,000 acres in Kittitas County. The fire has prompted a level 1 evacuation order because homes in the area are under threat. The fire - called the Milepost 22 fire - is burning grass and brush about two miles north of Vantage, which is just across the Columbia River along I-90. The fire broke out Wednesday afternoon. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.