Rising temperatures and thunder storms over the weekend have driven the number of active wildfires in B.C. up to nearly 100, and with much of the province at a high or extreme fire risk, officials are reminding people to be careful with their campfires and cigarette butts. At this time last year, there were only 25 active wildfires burning in the province.

Of the 96 active fires, 24 were started on Saturday (June 27), with another 11 sparked on Sunday. 

Open fires have been banned in the Coastal, Kamloops, Southeast, and Cariboo regions, while a ban was placed on campfires in most of the Coastal region this past weekend, with the exception of northern Vancouver Island, the midcoast portion of the mainland, and Haida Gwaii. There are a currently nearly 40 active fires larger than 10 hectares in size burning in the Northeast and Prince George regions, however, open fires are still permitted in these areas.

The only active fire in the Coastal fire centre, according to B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch, is the 586-hectare blaze burning 67 kilometeres west of Pemberton, of which, 45 percent has been contained. Of the 122 fires burning in the Kamloops region, 22 were the result of lightning, while the remainder were the result of human activity. The number of fires in the region exceeds both last year's numbers, as well as the 10-year average.

Over 90 percent of the province's $63-million wildfire budget has already been spent. Last year's wildfires cost the government nearly five times that amount, ringing in at $293 million. Money from the province's contingency fund was used to cover the extra expenses, but it has not yet been revealed how the province will deal with exceeding costs in 2015.

While it is suspected that approximately half of the number of wildfires in the province were caused by lightning, officials are asking that people acknowledge the current bans on open fires and campfires in their areas, and that they dispose of any cigarette butts, fireworks, and barbecue coals responsibly.

Visit the Wildfire Management site to stay updated on active fires, statistics, and fire bans.