Forecasted lightning in several regions of B.C. and a severe thunderstorm watch for much of the province has put emergency officials on the alert for an increase in new forest fires.
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch Monday for an area extending from the Okanagan to as far north as Prince George, where lightning was expected until at least today.
That forecast, combined with recent hot weather throughout the province, had crews preparing to mobilize for new fires, said information officer Erin Catherall.
"With the forecast of lightening, crews are getting prepared for an increase in fire starts," said Catherall.
Between Sunday and Monday, there were 52 new fires caused by lightning across B.C., though most covered an area of less than one hectare.
The number of forest fires have been below average so far this season and almost none have posed a serious threat to people or their homes.
As of Monday, the province saw nearly 1,100 fires since April 1, far below the 10-year average of roughly 1,600 by this time, said Catherall. Last year, considered one of the slowest seasons on record, there were fewer than 500 fires by mid-August.
Few fires this year have come close to people or their homes. A fire near Vernon several weeks ago came within six kilometres of the downtown, said Catherall, but crews have since contained the blaze and largely extinguished it.
