Haze and the sound of helicopters fill the air in Revelstoke Saturday after a lightning storm on Friday ignited approximately 27 fires near the city.

There are eight new fires burning in Mt. Revelstoke National Park, and many areas of the park are closed as a result.

This includes the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, Summit Trail, Inspiration Woods, Lindmark Trail, Nels Nelsen Ski Jump, Eva Lake, Miller Lake, Jade Lake and Balsam Lake and summit.

Crews are currently assessing the areas and they will remain closed until they’re deemed to be safe.

This is in conjunction with the prescribed fire in Flat Creek area of Glacier National Park, which Parks Canada reported on Friday had been successfully ignited. That area of the park is also currently closed.

A spokesperson for Parks Canada said their website will be updated shortly.

A map from B.C. Wildfire Services shows clusters of new fires (orange squares) near Revelstoke. Photo: A screenshot from the B.C. Wildfire Services app.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Services webpage, there are 12 new fires burning near Revelstoke north of town. These were all reported on Saturday, Aug. 20.

One in the Martha Creek area, the suspected cause is unknown. One on the northwest ridge of Mount Sale, lightning is the suspected cause. One in Laforme Pass, also suspected to be caused by lightning.

There are six new fires burning in the Carnes Creek area, all of them listed as the suspected cause unknown. There are two new fires reported Saturday on Frisby Ridge, both suspected to be caused by lightning.

Also north of town an approximately 182 hectare fire has been burning in the Laforme Drainage since the beginning of August. It’s classified as out of control.

East of town, on Saturday five new fires were reported. Three on Mount MacKenzie, all suspected to be caused by lightning. One in Greely Bowl, and one in Radar Bowl, both likely caused by lightning.

Southeast of town there is a fire burning on the south shoulder of Mt. Cartier, it was identified Saturday and is suspected to be caused by lightning.

Another one reported Saturday is burning on the north shoulder of Mt. McCrae, another lightning strike. In the same area, a fire has been burning on McCrae Peak since the end of July. Its status is “being held.”

An out of control, 106 hectare fire burning near the Akolkolex Forest Service Road was reported Aug. 12. Humans are suspected to have caused it. This fire prompted a closure in the area which will remain in affect until mid-October.

And, there are six new fires within the Southeast Fire Centre burning southwest of Revelstoke. One on the southeast ridge of Mt. MacPherson, was reported Friday, and lightning is the suspected cause. Two are burning on the east ridge of Mt. Begbie, one reported Friday and one Saturday, both suspected to be caused by lightning. And one is burning on the Mt. Begbie shoulder, reported Saturday, lightning is likely the cause.

Two fires are burning on Shakedown Forest Service Road, both reported Saturday, both suspected to be caused by lightning.

There are 191 fires burning in B.C., 70 of which started in the last two days.

There are 79 burning in the Southeast Fire Centre, which Revelstoke is in, and which has the most fires in the province.

These numbers on continuously being updated on the B.C. Wildfire Services website.

Currently Environment Canada is forecasting more lightening for Saturday evening and Sunday.

As of right now there doesn’t appear to be any structures under threat due to these fires.

Click the link below to listen to a radio report, which is playing on StokeFM on Saturday, Aug. 20.