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A new wildfire has grown out of control on Vancouver Island, near Port Alberni, B.C.

About 300 people have been evacuated from a nearby campground and marina, and the fire has knocked out power for more than 500 B.C. Hydro customers southwest of the blaze.

The Mount Underwood wildfire is located about 12 kilometres south of Port Alberni, a city of around 19,000 people about 60 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo.

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The fire was discovered Monday and grew quickly throughout the day, ballooning from around 50 hectares at 7 p.m. PT to 630 hectares three hours later.

"It grew massive," said Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor John Jack, chair for the Alberni-Clayoq

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