Prineville, Ore. – The brush fire that erupted Saturday afternoon near SE Highland Road is now believed to be human-caused, according to Crook County Fire and Rescue officials. A joint investigation is underway to determine exactly how the blaze started.
Crook County Fire and Rescue (CCFR) was dispatched to the area at approximately 3:43 p.m. on July 12. First responders arrived to find a fast-moving fire burning through sagebrush and juniper, with flames threatening nearby homes. Crews immediately launched structure protection efforts, which appear to have prevented any buildings from being lost.
“First arriving crews found a fast-moving fire burning in sage brush [sic] and juniper. Crews immediately began structure protection efforts for homes in the immediate vicinity,” said Division Chief and Fire Marshal Russell Deboodt in a press release Sunday.
Multiple agencies assisted in the firefighting response, including the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, Oregon Department of Forestry, and Central Oregon Structural Task Forces.
As of Sunday afternoon, no structures had been reported lost, and crews continued to monitor hot spots.
The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by CCFR, in coordination with the Oregon Department of State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Land Management. While investigators have not yet released specifics, they have confirmed the fire was not naturally ignited.
“At this time, the fire has initially been determined to be human caused and the thorough and complete investigation is currently ongoing,” Deboodt said. “To maintain the integrity of the investigation, no additional information is being released until the investigation is finalized.”
As of this morning, officials reported the fire was estimated to be about 719 acres and that they currently have 5% containment. Officials also said that evacuation levels put in place by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office remain unchanged at this time.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. Residents are urged to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity or fire hazards to local authorities.
