Lightning storms sparked a dozen wildfires during the past weekend that kept the Cariboo Fire Centre personnel busy.
Three of the fires are still actively burning in the South Cariboo, says fire information officer Jenny Fremlin, but all are in the mop-up stages and no structures are in danger.
The largest of the local lightning-caused wildfires is estimated at just less than one hectare in size and is located approximately eight kilometres north and west of Clinton in the Fiftyone Creek area.
As of July 16, Fremlin notes crews, including 11 personnel and one water truck, were on site at that fire.
The two smaller south-end fires are both about 1.5 km west of 76 Mile on Highway 97. One had eight personnel and a water tender still on site as of Monday, with 13 crew members remaining at the other.
The 12 new fires across the Cariboo region range in size from smaller spot fires up to about 13 hectares.
Seven of these have already been called “out,” Fremlin adds, and the fires still burning are not immediately threatening any structures.
She notes crews, equipment and aircraft will continue to fight the remaining fires, and the Cariboo Fire Centre will be actively patrolling for any others caused by the lightning.
"The public assisted greatly in locating many of the fires from this past weekend, and the Cariboo Fire Centre would like to thank the public for continuing to report wildfires."
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cell phone or call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.