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Crews Monitoring SW Dade Brush Fire

MIAMI (CBS4) - A brush fire in Southwest Miami-Dade got a little too close for comfort for some homeowners near Goulds on Sunday.

"All of a sudden, I saw flames shooting up in the field across from my home," Pamela Downs said. "I just started yelling fire, fire!

Downs stood and watched as firefighters tried to extinguish the fire just feet from her house.

"We don't even know how it started," Downs said. "We just looked out and it was there."

The brush fire spread Sunday in the area between Southwest 232 Street and 220th Street around SW 117 Avenue in Goulds.

Forestry officials said about 35 acres were charred. As of Sunday night, it was about 75% contained, according to officials with Florida Forest Service.

"It just stopped right here, they got it," Celia Bare said pointing to a spot just a few yards from where she stood. She decided to evacuate her home as a precaution.

"I'm just waiting now to go in to see if everything is okay on my street," Gloria Rolle said.

A chopper flew overhead dropping buckets of water on the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Crews remained overnight to monitor hotspots.

"It's scary," Downs said. "You don't know what's going to happen with the wind and it's been dry.

Florida Power and Light said it had to cut off electricity to some customers as crews fought the fire.

That was just a minor inconvenience to neighbors who said they feared the worst.

"I was scared and crying," Rolle said. "But I'm feeling much better now. I'm feeling everything is going to be okay."

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