Crews battling 1,600-hectare fire near Quesnel

Crews are getting an early start to the wildfire season as a large fire in the Cariboo region has quickly grown since Saturday.

The Burgess Creek fire was discovered on April 20 and, according to the latest update from Sunday, is 1,600 hectares in size.

The fire is between Quesnel and Williams Lake, five kilometres northwest of Ben Lake.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, wildfire crews, aircraft and heavy equipment are tackling the blaze.

The cause of the fire is unknown and south of Burgess Creek is another blaze that is much smaller and being held.