The fire in Southeast El Paso county is now 100 percent contained.

Neighbors in the area of Highway 94 and Page road say they feel blessed their homes weren't destroyed.

The tall, green trees in Michael Carroll's yard now stand out among the ashes and charred debris from the roughly 9-thousand acre fire that ripped through Southeast El Paso county on Saturday.

Undamaged homes miraculously standing, are examples of how following basic fire prevention tips can save your property, and even your life.

Neighbors here say they kept up on cutting their grass, which they say saved their homes.

Owners used garden hoses and shovels to keep the fire from reaching their homes.

"We moved the water hose out to the front and started to save the barn, which we did. It didn't catch on, so I'm happy!" says Carroll.

While some owners were protecting their homes, others could only stand by and wonder what was happening to their property.

But now, they see how the scramble to stop the flames paid off.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but many people in the area believe it started from a lit cigarette thrown out of a car window.

There is a Red Flag warning, Monday, May 12, for all of Southern Colorado from 10 am until 9 pm.