Weeks of dry weather has B.C. bracing for a dramatic rise in the risk of wildfires.

More high temperatures have been forecast for the coming weeks while officials at the province's Wildfire Management Branch say concerns will heat up this weekend.

"An increase in the fire-danger rating is likely, as well as an increase in fire starts," said fire information officer Erin Catherall on Thursday.

The conditions have been created by several weeks of dry weather — and more is on the way for the rest of August and September.

"It's going to be high [temperatures] and dry," said Environment Canada forecaster Louis Kohanyi.

"We are expecting warmer temperatures than normal and precipitation lower than normal across B.C.," he said.

Existing fires include blazes in the areas around Prince George, Castlegar and Kamloops.

It has been worse in Washington state, where more than 60 homes and 11,000 hectares have burned near Ellensburg.

Catherall said risks, which are already "moderate to high," are expected to rise in the next few days as temperatures hit a high of 28 C in Vancouver.

"We'll probably see areas of extreme risk in the Southern Interior," she said.

Extreme danger means that just one spark could start a fire.

Gwen Barlee of the Wilderness Committee said climate change and the buildup of combustible material on forest floors, such as trees killed by pine beetles, have made fires more probable.

"Forest fires are going to be part and parcel of living in B.C.," she said.

Casey Macaulay, a Kamloops-based staffer at the Association of B.C. Forest Professionals, said measures have been taken since B.C.'s worst-ever fire season in 2003. That year 45,000 people were evacuated and $700 million in damage was caused by more than 2,500 wildfires.

"Programs have been developed to reduce risk to communities through the use of things like fire guards," he said.

He added September will bring relief as temperatures cool.

"Most people start breathing a sigh of relief at the end of August," he said.

According to statistics, B.C. has experienced a below-average year for forest fires so far.

Through Aug. 16, 954 fires have been reported. The figure is 519 below the 10-year average.

But with the hot, dry weather continuing, people going into the outdoors are advised to be careful with campfires, which are not yet banned in many parts of the province.

“We can’t afford to have one person cause a wildfire,” said Catherall.

The number to report wildfires is 1-800-663-5555, or 5555 from a cellphone.

The Wildfire Management Branch’s web address, where the latest information is displayed, is at bcwildfire.ca.