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Intense Brush Fire Makes Residents Nervous In Centennial

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - Intense flames shot out of a green belt area around 5:45 p.m. Saturday in Centennial

Only about 2 ½ acres burned, but it's a real reminder about the fire danger.

Flames shot up 15 to 20 feet in the greenbelt, according to Cunningham Fire Protection District Chief Jerry Rhodes. The parkland is lined on both sides by homes in the Centennial neighborhood.

The wet spring doesn't seem to be helping curb the wildfire danger.

"The fuels are still very, very dry. That's why we're really concerned as we get closer to the Fourth of July," Rhodes said.

The fire chief praised the owner of one home for cutting grass that isn't his in the green belt area.

"If the flames jump across this sidewalk, this grass will burn very, very slowly because it's short," Rhodes said. "It will probably never get to the fence."

Mother Nature might not be the culprit of the brush fire.

"A lot of times it may be a kid … if it was a kid that set the fire, we would really like to get that kid and that kid's parents into the juvenile fire center program and maybe curb some behaviors before things get worse," Rhodes said.

The fire made residents nervous.

"We have a school that is real close. It could have been bad. They did a great job," one resident said.

Some 20 homeowners were in jeopardy for a period of time and were prepared to evacuate. That did not happen.

Anybody who saw something that might have been suspicious is asked to call the fire department or police.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.

- Read recent Wildfire stories.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

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

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