Nearly 100 firefighters were working Wednesday to contain a new wildfire on rangeland near the John Day River that grew to an estimated 10,000 acres on steep slopes in afternoon winds, officials said.
Crews were called to the Rhoades Canyon Fire, east of Clarno, after it was reported just before noon Tuesday south of state Highway 218 a mile east of the John Day River.
Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Lisa Clark said the fire grew quickly to the south due to light, dried-out grass, steep slopes and wind.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, which was 30 percent contained by late Wednesday.