BC  

Photo: Contributed

One of the small fires burning in the Savona area, west of Kamloops.

Twelve new fires were sparked by lightning across the Interior Thursday, and lightning remains in the forecast across the Okanagan.

Lightning struck across the Kamloops Fire Centre, with the majority of new fires sparked near the Savona area, west of Kamloops.

“For the most part, it was dry lightning, so that's why we saw what we did,” said fire information officer Marla Catherall.

Most of the new fires are believed to be spot-sized this morning, but Catherall says they are working to confirm that.

The BC Wildfire Service responded with ground crews, helicopters and air tankers to several of the fires in the Savona area Thursday.

While 10 new fires were sparked by lightning in the Kamloops Fire Centre, two spot-sized fires were also started by lightning in the Southeast Fire Centre, near Grand Forks and east of Trail.

A risk of thunderstorms persists this afternoon for Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon.