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Close Call: Grass Fire Contained Before Reaching Home

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Firefighters rushed to put out a grass fire in Jefferson County on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire broke out on private land in the 4500 block of Guy Hill Road and burned about one acre. One home was threatened but firefighters were able to contain the fire before it could cause damage.

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(credit: CBS)

People who live in such canyons know that during fire season it doesn't take much for a spark to grow into a raging wildfire, especially with the incredibly dry conditions.

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(credit: CBS)

The homeowners even worked to knock back the blaze themselves, desperate to make sure the flames didn't encroach on their property before firefighters arrived.

Mike Vitry
CBS4's Jennifer Brice interviews former Denver firefighter Mike Vitry (credit: CBS)

Mike Vitry lives nearby where the fire broke out. He's a retired Denver firefighter who says it was the closest flames have come to his home in all the years he's lived there. He's also a prepared homeowner. Each spring Vitry fills up tanks with water, powers it with a pump, and is ready to protect his property, especially from flying embers.

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Mike Vitry's water tanks (credit: CBS)

"It's always a concern when you look around the whole country and here in Colorado -- five, six, eight different fires going on at the same time -- so we're not immune to it," Vitry said.

What caused the fire is unknown. Crews were working all day long to put out hotspots to make sure the fire didn't reignite.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

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