Prineville house fire caught fast, thanks to smoke alarms

Working smoke alarms made all the difference Thursday night at a southwest Prineville home, awakening the homeowner to a fire that Crook County Fire & Rescue crews quickly extinguished, an official said.

Crews were dispatched around 9:30 p.m. to the possible structure fire on Southwest Deer Street, said Fire Marshal Russell Deboodt.

Arriving crews found the home filled with light smoke from a fire that was found to have been sparked by smoldering materials in a bedroom.

The homeowner was asleep at the time but was awkened by working smoke alarms throughout the home, Deboodt said. They were able to evacuate and called 911 to report the fire.

There was no damage to the structure or other contents due to the early response of the homeowner and fire crews, he said.

“This is a great reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms in every home,” Deboodt said in a news release.

He said it’s recommended to have a smoke alarm in eveyr bedroom and on every level of the home, as a minimum. Residents also should check the alarms once a month, to make sure they are functioning properly.

If you have any questions about your home’s smoke alarms, contact Crook County Fire & Rescue at 541-447-5011 or your local fire agency.