Prescribed Burn Turns To Wildfire In Central Oregon

A controlled burn that jumped to private land in the Ochoco National Forest grew to more than 1,700 acres Saturday morning.

Firefighters worked through the night Friday to contain the fire. Estimates indicate it’s 25 percent contained.

The Oregon Department of Forestry says the fire began as a prescribed burn to improve range and forest health within a 333-acre unit in the national forest.

The agency says an unexpected wind event pushed fire north across planned containment lines, resulting in a wildfire.

A portion of the national forest is temporarily closed while fire suppression efforts are underway.