Lightning forecast worries firefighters in B.C. Interior

Lightning is forecast across the parched woodlands of much of B.C.'s Interior on Friday and Saturday, bad news for firefighters who continue to battle a stubborn wildfire northwest of Lillooet.

The 80-square-kilometre Tyaughton Lake fire, which has been burning for more than a week, is now 50 per cent contained, and crews are battling to stall the eastern edge of the blaze on a ridge above Marshall Lake, according to a release from the B.C. Forest Service.

Firefighters have installed sprinkler systems on residential properties along Liza, Marshall and Carol lakes as well as Tyaughton Lake and Gun Creek to help protect homes in the area. An evacuation order remains in effect for Marshall Lake, Liza Lake, Carol Lake, Mud Creek, Tyaughton Lake and Gun Creek Road, the release said.

There are road closures in the immediate vicinity of the wildfire, including Highway 40 due to the risk of falling rocks and debris.

A couple of small fires were sparked in the north Okanagan when storms swept through on Thursday, but crews worked through the night to deal with those, fire officials said.

Elsewhere, lightning is also forecast in parts of northeastern B.C., in the same area where a fire that has grown to 205 square kilometres along the Yukon border remains out of control.

Fire crews welcomed the news that reinforcements were on the way.

Forestry Minister Pat Bell said 60 firefighters from Ontario are arriving Friday to help with the fire near the Yukon border. They are expected to stay for two weeks. 

And crews from Alberta arrived yesterday to help with the Tyaughton Lake blaze.

It is the first time this season that British Columbia has asked crews from out of province to help with fire efforts.