Thanks to scorching summer temperatures, lots of sunny days and a lack of rain, many parts of the province are on alert for the potential of wildfires.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says the risk is High to Extreme in the Muskokas and toward the GTA.

Ministry spokesperson Mike Ward says a handful of fires have sparked up in recent days.

"The new fires in Parry Sound are fairly small.  They are being actioned by (Ministry) resources and no real problems are anticipated," he says.

Ward says officials are keeping a close eye on the area because its so dry.

A lightning strike or even a tossed cigarette butt could be enough to light a massive blaze.

Ward says you should check with local officials to see if there's a campfire ban in near your cottage.

Elsewhere, in places like Timmins, Sudbury and Kirkland Lake, trees and grass are parched and could go up in flames with even the tiniest spark.

The hot, dry weather has been keeping the Natural Resources Ministry busy.

So far this year, crews have put out 674 wildfires across the province, far exceeding the yearly average of 477.

The 2012 blazes have swallowed up 52,376 thousand hectares of land.