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However, officials thought it was more likely they'd be able to put out any fire before it got that far, partly because of crews and water on site. Officials who wrote the plan insisted that the 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 state Forest Service has refused to say if that happened, citing an independent review into the burn. Two residents who lost their homes have said they didn't get the letters. Gov. John Hickenlooper has suspended prescribed burns on state land, and the U.S. Forest Service has suspended six planned burns in Colorado until the weather improves. Several Colorado counties have enacted fire restrictions. This March has been unusually dry, but a cold front promised to bring relief late Sunday, National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Kriederman said. Crews have been restoring power in the fire zone, and an overnight shelter closed as residents tried to return to normal Friday. Bill Suvada Jr. said he returned home Thursday but was keeping his car packed in case he has to flee again. "It was a long night of wondering," Suvada said of his first night home. Jill Owens remembered rushing with her husband, two kids and animals to leave their home shortly after 5 p.m. Monday as smoke crept closer. She later noticed a text message on her cellphone with an evacuation notice from sheriff's officials at 5:08 p.m. She never got a warning call on her land line. She guesses her house burned about 15 minutes after her family left. She and her husband learned from watching television Tuesday that their house was gone. "You never think it's actually going to happen," she said. "I wish I would've stopped and looked back at the house one last time."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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