It may be too early to compare this British Columbia fire season with the worst one on record - in 2003 - but this season is sure off to a bad start.

There are more than a dozen forest fires burning across B.C. right now. Some of them are being labeling as fairly intense for this early in the season.

2003 started off early with hot and dry conditions. Fires burned near populated areas destroyed about 240 homes, including much of the hamlet of Louis Creek, near Kamloops, where 3,000 people had to flee.

The cost of what was dubbed the Season of Fire reached $700 million and took the lives of three pilots flying aerial tankers fighting the fires.

At most concern to forest fire fighters and fire scientists are the large areas of the forest that were killed by pine beetles. Until those dead trees compose, the build up of all their dead needles are a huge risk for spreading fire.

Read more about the fires burning in B.C. right now:
Dry conditions could spark record fire season (CTV)