Juniper Canyon fire prompts pre-evacuation notice

A wildfire of possibly suspicious origin burned about four acres off Juniper Canyon Road southeast of Prineville Sunday afternoon before crews contained it, while about 50 nearby residents were given a Level 1 pre-evacuation notice, officials said.

Crook County Fire and Rescue responded with five engines and a water tender to the brushfire about two miles north of Prineville Reservoir shortly 3 p.m. Fire Chief Matt Smith said the fire was contained shortly after 4 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jake Childers said a property owner in the area saw a white Ford pickup on a hill across the road on property he also owns, on the west side of the canyon.

Childers said the land owner headed that way, saw the pickup leaving and soon spotted the then-small brushfire. He said he didn’t recognize the license plate. Childers said the man was unable to control the fire and called authorities.

The fire burned grass, sagebrush, rabbitbrush and juniper trees, Childers said.

The sergeant said they are unsure if the parked vehicle’s catalytic converter might have ignited tall grass or something else happened. No cigarette was found, and any tracks in the area were gone due to the fire trucks called out. Childers said.

Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue notified about 50 nearby residents of the fire and a Level 1 (Get Ready) pre-evacuation notice. Childers said no homes were directly threatened, but the fire and pre-evacuation notice “definitely unnerved a few folks.”