UPDATE: Roads reopened as Florida Forest Service fights 400-acre woodland wildfire in Marion County

Florida Forest Service firefighters were dispatched to an escaped blaze near Gooski Prarie in Marion County Friday afternoon
Published: Mar. 3, 2023 at 2:33 PM EST
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MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB) - Florida Forest Service firefighters were dispatched to an escaped blaze near Gooski Prairie in Marion County Friday afternoon.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies announced that parts of County Road 316, from Northeast 175th Street to Fort McCoy are back open after being closed due to the blaze.

Florida Forest Service officials said the fire was 75% contained at 3:30 p.m., however, by 7 p.m., harsh winds picked up, carrying and expanding the fire from 200 acres to 400.

The fire started as a controlled burn by a private landowner Thursday afternoon that got out of hand as the wind picked up.

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Florida Forest Service officials say that smoke advisories and more road closures may come soon.

This story will be updated as more details are available.

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