Chimney fire tears through NE Prineville home

Fire that tore through a northeast Prineville home Sunday night, causing about $200,000 in damage, was traced to the chimney, Crook County fire officials said Monday.

Deputy Fire Chief Casey Kump said crews responded to Northeast Stripling Court, off Owens Road, just after 9 p.m. on reports of flames seen burning through the roof of the two-story home.

Crook County Fire responded with three engines, two water tenders and two medics, a total of 16 firefighters, he added.

First-arriving crews found a fully involved attic fire that had burned through the roof, Kump said in an updated news release Monday afternoon. The fire also had extended down to the top floor of the home.

Crews worked defensively to try to save the lower floor, but smoke and water damaged all of the remaining contents, the deputy fire chief said.

The lone male resident was not home when the fire was reported and declined assistance from the Red Cross, Kump said. Losses were estimated at $200,000, including contents.

The fire was traced to the chimney’s “chase” enclosure that houses the flue pipe, but Kump said further inspection of the flue pipe was inconclusive due to damage after removal from the debris pile.