Quesnel, B.C. – The BC Wildfire Service and forest industry workers are dealing with a wildfire burning about five kilometres northwest of Nazko and roughly 90 kilometres west of Quesnel.

With gusty winds blowing in the Cariboo region the fire was estimated at 7 o’clock Friday night at 1,000 hectares in size. Its cause is being investigated.

The Wildfire Service and industry personnel responded to the outbreak with suppression resources. Firefighters and heavy equipment are on site with more resources expected to arrive today.

This is the first big wildfire of the 2016 season.  Close to $300 million was spent fighting wildfires that burned approximately 3,000 square kilometres in B.C. in 2015.