Officials call it a stroke of luck the Ft. Carson fire burned only grass and brush. Hundreds had to evacuate their homes Tuesday night as a precaution, getting word directly from authorities.

The day flames ran, unchecked, over Ft. Carson land the phone rang that night at Marie Lamberson's house.

"We got the reverse 911 call that said mandatory evacuation," Lamberson said.

It may have sounded something like a test message played for 11 news:

"There is a wildfire near Ft. Carson burning. Please evacuate your home. This is only a test," said an automated voice.

It comes from a computer at one of seven possible El Paso County emergency call centers.

"Based on information we received it was very successful," said El Paso-Teller County 911 spokesperson Troy Pring.

At least eight notifications went out Tuesday to residents west of Highway 115 over an eight-hour span.

The calls are processed fast, going to landlines usually within 90 seconds.

An operator designates the call area, chooses how many times calls will go out, and with a click of a mouse the calls are placed to up to 2,000 customers in an hour.

"It's always prefaced by,'This is an important message from 9-1-1.' Hopefully people will take it seriously," Pring said.

What's even more serious is actually reaching the customer, who may not be home at the crucial time.

El Paso and Teller County residents can register online to receive reverse 9-1-1 calls by cell phone.

Once registered, it will take 30 to 60 days for the numbers to get into the emergency notification system.

Click the link below to get to the El Paso-Teller County Enhanced 911 Authority home page.