Fewer active fires in B.C., but risk remains high in province's south

Above average temperatures for many parts of British Columbia aren't expected to ease soon and Environment Canada said Monday there is no hint of showers until at least the weekend for some southern regions hit hard by wildfires.

Emergency Management B.C. says more than 250 active wildfires have charred 4,142 square kilometres since the fire season started almost four months ago, which is down slightly from last week when just over 300 were burning.

The fire risk remains high to extreme over most of southern B.C., and the B.C. Wildfire Service says 40 blazes are ranked as fires of note, meaning flames are either highly visible or pose an immediate safety risk.

The weather office predicts lighter winds over several of the most challenging fires, including the 68-square kilometre Nk'mip Creek blaze in the south Okanagan between Oliver and Osoyoos.

But forecasters say temperatures there won't budge from the mid- to high-30s all week, and there's no sign of rain.

Showers could dampen parts of southeast B.C., where fires on both sides of Upper Arrow Lake have forced evacuation orders or alerts for hundreds of properties.

However, Environment Canada says the chance of rain is just 30 per cent and it won't come until Saturday at the earliest.

Emergency Management B.C. says 4,260 properties remain on evacuation order across B.C., while residents of just under 18,000 properties have been warned to be ready to leave on short notice