Many of B.C.’s wildfires are raging out of control Monday, fuelled by strong winds and dry, hot conditions over the weekend.

So far this fire season, more than 766,000 hectares have burned.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth told a news conference strong winds fuelled and whipped up a number of the massive fires burning in the Interior on Sunday.

He said the White Rock Lake fire near Vernon has caused a significant amount of damage, and the Okanagan Indian Band’s territory and surrounding areas have suffered “significant loss.”

It is too early to say how many structures have been destroyed, he added.

Crews fighting that fire even had to shelter in safe zones Sunday night due to the aggressive fire activity on that blaze.

The July Mountain wildfire also closed the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt Sunday evening. It remained closed as of Monday afternoon.

Residents travelling through that area before the closure reported ash falling around them and embers flying through the sky.

For more information: https://globalnews.ca/news/8116288/bc-wildfires-august-2021-government-update/

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