At least five new wildfires were ignited by lightning in British Columbia since Friday, and combined with roughly a dozen other new blazes, the total number burning across the province now stands at more than 150.

The BC Wildfire Service posted on social media detailing how the blazes were sparked by lightning and discovered in the Lillooet Fire Zone, warning more fires may pop up due to hot weather and wind.

It said crews are responding to the fires with the help of air support, adding that no structures are at risk from any of the new fires in the zone, which include one blaze described as a B次元官网网址渟ingle tree burning.B次元官网网址�

A campfire ban in B.C. came into effect Friday, which covers the entire province other than Haida Gwaii.

A brush fire caused by youths setting off fireworks at a popular park in Nanaimo, B.C., the day the ban took effect has the cityB次元官网网址檚 mayor on edge about the provinceB次元官网网址檚 vulnerability to wildfires as the season heats up.

Leonard Krog said Saturday that a group of young people gathered at PiperB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon Park caused the blaze, which he said should be a B次元官网网址渨ake-up callB次元官网网址� to citizens to pay attention to fire bans. And although his city has been spared so far, unlike communities in the B.C. interior, he says B次元官网网址渙ur turn will no doubt come.B次元官网网址�

Krog said B次元官网网址渟ome idiotsB次元官网网址� set off fireworks in the park and the brush fire damaged undergrowth in a B次元官网网址渧ery sensitive ecological area.B次元官网网址�

He said setting off fireworks, which canB次元官网网址檛 be bought without a license in Nanaimo, on the day the provincial fire ban came into effect B次元官网网址渋s the height of stupidity and arrogance.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 am frankly, as mayor, disgusted that anybody of any age would think it appropriate, for whatever reason, to be that stupid in the middle of a hot, dry summer,B次元官网网址� he said.

Krog said PiperB次元官网网址檚 Lagoon Park is a popular area and visiting the site of the blaze Saturday morning was B次元官网网址渧ery upsetting.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hese bans and regulations arenB次元官网网址檛 in place just because we love banning and regulating things. TheyB次元官网网址檙e in place to protect public assets and unique public assets,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭his may be the start of, you know, two or three months of hot, dry weather, and the fire at PiperB次元官网网址檚 points out how quickly serious consequences can flow from a few acts of stupidity.B次元官网网址�

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The Canadian Press