A 4.6-hectare fire raging above Dairy Road near Westsyde was likely the result of lightning, said Kamloops Fire Centre information officer Kayla Pepper.

Smoke was spotted on Sunday morning, leading to a deployment of a dozen wildfire personnel, air tankers and two helicopters.

"We're working to establish a hand guard around the fire," said Pepper. "There's no structures threatened at this time."

The blaze was the largest of 19 new fires in the region caused by a lightning storm overnight Saturday.

"They were popping up everywhere," said Pepper.

All other fires were less than one hectare in size, she said. Some would be no more than two metres by three metres.

None of the fires approached structures or settlements.

People are asked to maintain vigilance for the sight of smoke since latent flareups can occur as much as three weeks after lightning strikes.

"That strike can hit and put the energy into the ground and it can simmer there until the conditions are hot and relative humidity is low enough to start a fire."

Another lightning storm anticipated for Sunday night and today may create more work for firefighters this week.

"The temperatures are cooling off but we're still looking at upper 20s, so definitely still warm enough for fires," said Pepper.

A fire sparked Friday is still flaring up within a four-hectare area 30 kilometres northwest of Barriere. Around 30 firefighters are on site building a guard by hand, said Pepper.

"It's inoperable with heavy equipment because of the slope and the rock. So it is hard firefighter work."

Anyone spotting a fire is asked to call emergency personnel at *5555 on a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555.