Photo: Mike Biden

UPDATE: 4 p.m.

BC Wildfire Service is preparing for dry lightning expected this weekend across the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Fire information officer Taylor MacDonald says they are expecting hot, dry conditions and the fire danger rating to increase over the weekend.

“We are reminding people to be careful out there and make sure if they are having a campfire or burning that they have the right tools,” she said.

Currently, there are no fire bans on for the Kamloops Fire Centre, but there are no open burns allowed within the City of Kelowna.

“We have had some initial discussions around campfires and category two and three bans, but no set dates in place as of yet,” said MacDonald.

BC Wildfire Service crews were sent to assist with a large wildfire burning in a northern Alberta town, but MacDonald says they are still fully staffed in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

“In the event of any incidents we are fully staffed, we make sure that when that process happens we are able to cover ourselves as well,” she said.

BC Wildfire Service says they are preparing for dry lightning and will be watching things closely.

ORIGINAL: 11:40 a.m.

Spring heat continues to bake the Okanagan for the third day in a row – and a lack of rain in the forecast has meteorologists concerned about wildfires next week. 

Environment Canada's Doug Lundquist says 30-degree temperatures Wednesday were a few degrees away from reaching a record. 

“No records, a few degrees off, they are more into the mid-30s,” he said. 

Kelowna's heat record for May 29 was set in 1983 at 34.4 C. Wednesday reached 31.6 C. 

“We don’t want it hotter than it is right now, we just have to warm that lake up and get some rain at night,” said Lundquist. 

Looking ahead to next week, Lundquist is concerned there will be no rainfall. 

“A part about next week that has me concerned is if we don’t get the rain and even if it is cooler. The wind, chance of lightning over the next couple of days… it all just adds up in my head,” he said. “I am sure the wildfire service is looking at this carefully. I am sure the risk is going up.”

BC Wildfire Service predicts the danger rating to stay at high until June 2, when it is expected to jump to extreme. 

“If you look at the big picture, it is not a good situation right now for the fire weather forecasters,” said Lundquist. “The bigger picture is it has been quite dry, and we are not having the replenishing rains we normally get in late May, early June.”

Lundquist says current conditions normally bring wind, too, which concerns him. 

“We’ve lived through too many of these years. Let’s really hope for those rains later in June,” he said. 

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on your cellphone. As a reminder to residents and visitors to Kelowna, there is no open burning allowed within city limits.