Firefighters battle massive wildfire burning out of control in B.C. Interior

BC Wildfire Service recruits fighting fire at boot camp in Merritt, B.C. (CTV News)

Dozens of firefighters are responding to a large wildfire burning out of control in British Columbia’s Cariboo region.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the blaze near Comstock Lake, southwest of Prince George, was discovered Monday and measured 200 hectares before growing dramatically overnight.

By Tuesday morning, the fire was estimated at 750 hectares with significant suppression efforts now underway.

The provincial wildfire service says 53 firefighters are responding to the blaze along with heavy machinery and aircraft that are dropping water and fire retardant as required.

The agency says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

There were 19 active wildfires burning in B.C. on Tuesday morning, including six sparked within the last day, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.

Three of those active fires are considered out of control, while five are being held and 11 are under control.