Fast-moving wildfires have forced the evacuation of dozens of properties in the B.C. Interior.

Flash wildfires force evacuations in popular B.C. town

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Daniel Martins

Digital Reporter

Tuesday, July 21, 2015, 8:41 AM - Fast-moving wildfires have forced the evacuation of dozens of properties in the B.C. interior.

Some 70 homes along Westside Road were ordered evacuated early Tuesday morning due to a fire that sparked near west Kelowna after a lightning strike.

Since being discovered on Sunday, it's grown to around 30 hectares and has already destroyed at least one home, according to the CBC.

The B.C. Wildfire Service deployed 23 firefighters to the area overnight, but without air support, as it is considered too dangerous to fly in darkness.

Strong winds are also keeping air tankers and helicopters grounded in the fight against a wildfire near Bolean Lake, 22 km away from Salmon Arm.

That fire, discovered Monday, was 300 hectares at the last report, and it's sparked an evacuation order affecting 24 properties, including Bolean Lake Resort.

Image: B.C. Wildfire Service

B.C. has had a very active wildfire season, with more than 1,200 fires burning almost 300,000 hectares so far in 2015. As of Monday, More than 200 fires were burning, 80 of which were more than 10 hectares.

More than 60 fires were sparked by lightning over the last 24 hours according to the Canadian Press, and firefighters have had a harder job containing them due to strong winds and dry conditions.

Whether there's any relief from the aridity depends on where you are in B.C. today. Northeastern B.C. is actually getting a major deluge between Monday and Tuesday, with up to 70 mm set to fall or areas around Muncho Lake and Fort Nelson.

The southern interior, however, will see only scattered showers, along with a chance of thunderstorms that could bring either quenching rain, or lightning that will spark still more fires.

METRO VANCOUVER ENACTS STAGE 3 WATER RESTRICTIONS

On Monday, Metro Vancouver has moved to Stage 3 water restrictions for the first time in 12 years.

All lawn sprinkling with treated drinking water is now prohibited, and officials plan to bring in "a number" of water conservation measures, according to the CBC.

Daily water consumption in the area has dropped from a high of 1.7 billion litres per day in early July, but remains high at 1.4 billion litres a day, the regional district says in a statement.

The new restrictions come days after the province declared a level 4 drought for the South Coast and Fraser Valley.

SOURCES: The Weather Network | Canadian Press | CBC News

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