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Colorado Burn Plan Acknowledged Risk Of Fires Escaping

DENVER (AP) -- Planners for a prescribed burn that apparently sparked a wildfire in Jefferson County acknowledged there was a potential for fires to escape and cause a "significant threat" to nearby homes.

However, Colorado State Forest Service officials thought it was more likely that they'd be able to put out fires before they got that far, partly because of crews and water on site. The plan, released Friday, also states that forest thinning would help protect those homes from a potential wildfire in the future.

The plan dates from 2006 and covers a series of burns being done in the area for Denver Water.

Under the plan, nearby residents were supposed to get warning letters. The Forest Service has refused to say if that happened because of an independent review into the burn.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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