Dangerous heat sparks health concerns in B.C.
Digital Reporter
Monday, July 14, 2014, 8:13 AM - Sunday's weather in B.C. may have been perfect for beach goers, but it's keeping fire crews on high alert.
Four stations across the province recorded temperatures above 40°C on Sunday.
Ashcroft was the country's national hot spot, with a daytime high of 41.3°C reported.
Conditions are expected to remain hot for much of the week, complicating an already elevated fire risk across the province.
Hot, windy, dry. That's B.C.'s forecast for the next week. Report all fires to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 pic.twitter.com/JMrUy0UpH2
— BCGovFireInfo (@BCGovFireInfo) July 12, 2014
Firefighters are working to contain a blaze near Quesnel that has spread, forcing occupants of a lodge to leave.
An evacuation order was posted for the Euchinko Lake Ranch Lodge.
With 60 fires currently burning across the province, a 21-person wildfire support crew has arrived from Ontario to help manage the situation.
Officials say since April 1, over 470 fire have burned in the province.
HEALTH CONCERNS
In addition to the growing wildfire threat, the record breaking heat has health officials on B.C.'s Lower Mainland concerned about an increase in heat related illnesses.
People are being urged to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the day.
FLICKR- Ibraheem Adams
FLOOD RISK
Isolated non-severe thunderstorms are forecast for most of the Interior and eastern Fraser Valley Monday with localized flooding being the greatest risk.
"A lack of flow aloft and the slow moving cells can linger over a region, increasing the risk of flash flooding," warns Hamilton.
EXTENDED ACTIVE WEATHER COVERAGE: Tune in to The Weather Network for live updates on the summer storms in your area. Our team of reporters and meteorologists in the field provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date coverage.
With files from The Canadian Press
