For nearly two weeks in May, BC Wildfire Service's feed on Facebook was suddenly slammed with an unprecedented number of conspiracy-laden comments, many claiming — falsely — that fires burning in the province at that time were set by arsonists.

This was untrue because less than four per cent of fires in BC over the past 10 years were started by arsonists, according to the wildfire service. About 40 per cent, including those mentioned in the Facebook posts, are caused by humans; lightning ignited the remainder.

But even weirder is that there were around 20 to 45 fires burning in the province through that period, compared to roughly 80 at the end of August.

"It was the most engagement we've ever had, and there was no fire activity to support it," said Jean Strong, digital communications o

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