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Neighborhood On Edge After Series Of Suspicious Fires

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - It has been so dry and windy on Colorado's Front Range that a wildfire in the cold weather months is more expected than surprising. But to think that someone may have set a series of fires on Green Mountain in Jefferson County is quite unsettling for residents.

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A neighborhood meeting took place Thursday night to discuss the investigation into the suspicious fires, which included Monday's which burned nearly 100 acres and forced evacuations.

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Jordan Ray's property in Lakewood near that burn area still smells of the fire. His was one of the hundreds of residences that fell under the evacuation order, and the family had an hour to get out.

"I smelled smoke and I saw it," he said. "We just started grabbing stuff, and it's a stressful thing."

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Monday's fire response was the fifth such action in the past month in the area for West Metro Fire. They say there's no doubt the fires are human caused.

"We eliminated natural causes and it's a little too frequent to be accidental," said Bruce Kral, fire marshal of the West Metro Fire Protection District.

Investigators do not know what exactly started the fire monday and did not call the fire arson. No suspects have been identified and no motive is known. What investigators do know is that with drought-like conditions, wildland areas next to neighborhoods are like tinder-box ready to explode.

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They are now hoping people who live in the area will keep a close watch on the hills for suspicious people and behavior. Anyone who sees something concerning is asked to call 911. They also plan to increase patrols in the area.

"We're hoping that there's enough people who use the park and enough people that saw something that might give us some clues," said Kral.

West Metro Fire Rescue investigators are asking anyone who sees anything suspicious, or knows anything about the fires, to contact them at (303) 987-7111.

Callers can remain anonymous.

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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