Christmas Eve fire destroys NW Prineville home

(Update: More on Red Cross assistance)

A fire that began in the garage destroyed a northwest Prineville home on Christmas Eve morning, but the residents escaped unhurt, Crook County Fire & Rescue officials said.

The fire was reported shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday at a home on Northwest Eighth Street, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal Russell Deboodt said.

Arriving crews found a fire that had started in the garage and made its way into the home’s attic, Deboodt said.

Prineville resident Steven Bates, who was leaving a nearby grocery store and saw smoke, went to see what was happening, provided help and shared video of the intense flames.

Bates said the residents had gone back into the house, apparently for Christmas presents.

“I was trying to get them out and helping the (police) officer to keep people out and away from harm’s way,” Bates told NewsChannel 21.

Bates said there were some small explosions from the garage area. He said neighbors were bringing blankets for the residents to wrap themselves in and offering their houses as shelter on the cold, snowy morning.

Deboodt said the home was a total loss, displacing two adults and several pets.

An investigation determined the fire began in the garage after a small engine backfired, igniting nearby flammable liquids, he added.

American Red Cross disaster responders were brought in to assist the family with its immediate needs. The Red Cross said provided resources to help address the immediate basic needs of those affected such as temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits, information about recovery services, and health and mental health services.

Neighbors who quickly set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple said they “are expecting a baby very soon and just lost everything.”