Orders have been given to evacuate parts of British Columbia in Canada, where people are in danger from more than 300 fires raging through the province's interior.

The province is under extreme fire alert, with fire-fighters, air tankers, helicopters and heavy machinery moving in to contain the fires.

Evacuation alerts and orders have been issued for 12 communities, which have been troubled by fires that ignited due to violent lightning storms.

Authorities in many regions have banned campfires, smoking in parks or lighting barbecues.