Crook County SO: Driver in custody after vehicle sparks brush fire west of Prineville, prompting evacuations, Hwy. 126 closure

(Update: Fire apparently started by vehicle, driver in custody; fire's forward progress stopped)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – While much attention was focused on a wildfire burning on the northern outskirts of Bend, another brush fire broke out Friday and put up black smoke, forcing evacuations and shutting state Highway 126 west of Prineville. It apparently was sparked by a vehicle, whose driver was taken into custody, Sheriff John Gautney said.

The Stillman Fire was reported 6 p.m. and burned about 10 acres, closing the highway five miles west of Prineville, near milepost 13, also prompting Level 3 GO NOW and some Level 2 BE READY evacuation alert for a smaller area to the west, later expanded to the south.

The latest Crook County evacuation map can be found here.

Sheriff Gautney said initial reports were that a residence was lost, but that was not the case.

“The cause of the fire is being investigated, but it does appear it was a vehicle, and that person who was driving is in custody,” the sheriff said.

Sheriff's Lt. Mitch Madden said in an initial Facebook video post from near SW Steffey Lane, “We do have an active and fast-moving wildfire” and they were asking everybody to “avoid this area and if you are living in this area to leave immediately.”

An evacuation center was opened at Powell Butte Christian Church, according to a later update from Undersheriff Bill Elliott.

Madden followed up around 7:40 p.m. with a video report that forward progress of the fire had been stopped, but mop-up work continued from the air and ground.

But in an update around 9:15 p.m., the sheriff's office said "Fire crews are still working on extinguishing the fire. The winds are still out of the north-northwest and we are ensuring that we don't end up with any spot fires."

ODOT had a detour in place between SW Parrish and Wiley roads - find updates at www.tripcheck.com.