Wildfire caused by hot weather still rampant in west Canada

Firefighters in Canada's west province of British Columbia were still busy on Wednesday putting out the wildfire which was fanned by hot and dry winds across the province, although no casualty has been reported.

Melissa Klassen, spokesperson for the provincial ministry of forest's wildfire management branch, said Wednesday the Mount McAllister fire in northeastern B.C. has grown to more than 10,000 hectares up from around 5,000 hectares earlier in the day, Xinhua reported.

Firefighters continue to battle a brush fire on Mount Boucherie, located in West Kelowna, about 400 kilometers east of Vancouver. The fire had grown to about five hectares by late Tuesday afternoon and crews fought to keep it from spreading to nearby homes, Melissa said.

Meanwhile, firefighters were struggling to contain a fire at Apex Mountain near Penticton, about 350 kilometers northeast of Vancouver. The fire started Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning has grown from 15 hectares to 35 hectares.

The Wildfire Management Branch said a few dozen fires larger than 10 hectares were still burning in the province.

Firefighters are beginning to get a handle on the Red Creek fire, which is burning 61 kilometers southeast of Tumbler Ridge. The blaze is now mapped at just over 6,000 hectares from more than 10,000 earlier this week and firefighters say it is now 35 percent contained.

The number of wildfires roaring throughout British Columbia climbed to more than 60 by Wednesday as the province is plagued by hot, dry conditions. Weather forecast said the hot and dry weather will continue to hit most of the province till this weekend.