Meat smoker on porch causes early-morning fire, heavily damaging NE Prineville home; family of 3 escapes unhurt

(Update: More details; family of three unhurt)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – A fire caused by a barbecue meat smoker on the front porch heavily damaged a northeast Prineville home early Tuesday morning, but a family of three escaped uninjured and firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to adjacent homes, an official said.

Crook County Fire & Rescue responded to the reported house fire on Northeast Sixth Street around 3:15 a.m. and found flames coming from the east side of the home, immediately threatening an adjoining house, Fire Marshal Russell Deboodt said.

Crews quickly deployed hose lines and kept the fire from reaching nearby homes, although Deboodt said one other house sustained minor heat damage.

The fire originated on the home’s exterior and spread inside, causing significant heat and smoke damage throughout, the fire marshal said.

Deboodt said the family of three who got out unharmed did not seek Red Cross disaster assistance, as they had local resources to turn to.

As for the meat smoker, the fire marshal said family members said they had used it last night but were sure they had turned it off afterward. But Deboodt said it was “the only thing in the area of origin that could have caused the fire.”

A total of 13 personnel responded with three engines and an ambulance, Deboodt said.