Near Osoyoos, a small wildfire erupted in the Strawberry Creek area just west of the town on Monday with reports coming in at 5:43pm according to the dispatch centre.

Fire Chief Rick Jones said the fire was caused by lightening and was quickly contained by a BC Forest Service crew.

Jones said the fire danger remains fairly low, but higher temperatures and the drying effects of the wind could see the danger rise quickly.

One of the main causes of wildfires, particularly along roadways, said Jones, is carelessly discarded cigarettes. “I hate to blame smokers,” he said, “But that’s is the way it is.

“We encourage smokers to butt their cigarettes in their ashtrays and take them home to dispose of them.”

BC Forest Service fire information officer Mellissa Klassen said that at this time of year most wildfires are “human caused,” which usually means out-of-control campfires, careless disposal of lighted cigarettes or outdoor burning that gets away.

“Any fire caused by a person is one too many,” she said, because they take resources away from fighting naturally occurring fires.

She says some lightening is predicted over the next week or so and crews will be on alert.

Thanks to Castanet