Fire threat high across Prairies; wind picking up again near evacuated town

A big drop in the wind on Saturday morning initially helped crews make gains on wildfires that forced the evacuation of 150 people from the hamlet of Newbrook north of Edmonton.

However, Candace Revega of the County of Thorhild said that by 5 p.m., the winds had started to pick up again.

"The fire is still partially contained," she said, explaining there is a fire line around 90 per cent of the blaze. "Sustainable Resources does have six water bombers out there right now, and we do have dozers and tankers that are doing suppression and fireguards.

"They're trying to keep it more contained, but with the wind picking up, we're just keeping our fingers crossed here."

She said everyone was very worried about the weather forecast for Sunday - hot and windy.

On Friday, flames came within a few kilometres of the community and actually did burn two homes in the surrounding rural area. By Saturday evening, the fire covered seven square kilometres.

Roberta Bibaud lost her home, and on Saturday she described it as devasting.

"It was pretty scary," she told CTV Edmonton. "There was a big wall of fire behind our house, it funnelled right to our house through spruce trees, so I knew we had no hope - it was get everybody out."

Most important to her, however, was that no one was hurt and volunteers were able to rescue her animals.

"They were instrumental in loading my little filly into the horse trailer," she said, her voice breaking with emotion. Thank you."

Evelyn Bennett and her family escaped the flames on Friday, but on Saturday fire officials arrived to tell them to pick up and clear out.

"Hurry up, we've got five minutes, c'mon," she shouted as she gathered up belongings.

"It came yesterday much closer. And God just shifted that wind - you could see Him moving it. But why did he shift it to the far south corner? It burned out our neighbour and burned out our neighbour to the north."

An out of control grass fire also forced more than 40 people to leave the village of Tadmore, Sask., on Friday night, destroying two abandoned homes and heavily damaging a Canadian National Railway bridge.

"We are monitoring the situation minute by minute," said Rob Harris, a wildfire information officer for the Alberta government.

"The forest fire threat is from very high to extreme in central and northern parts of the province."

In Saskatchewan, RCMP, along with the Sturgis and Canora fire departments, responded to the grass fire that roared toward Tadmore, 350 km. east of Saskatoon.

"It was very windy. They evacuated everyone. They were in harm's way," said RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond.

Those residents have since returned to their homes, she said.

CN repair crews replaced the bridge on Saturday and the rail line was back in service.

In Manitoba, officials were warning that conditions were ripe for wildfires as crews and water bombers battled 10 blazes throughout the province.

Tom Mirius, a spokesman for Manitoba's Conservation department, said the conditions include no green-up, very dry grass, few leaves on trees and high winds.

Elsewhere in Alberta crews and water bombers were fighting wildfires in remote areas near Manning and Slave Lake.

In Newbrook, evacuees were initially taken to a community hall in nearby Thorhild, but by Saturday afternoon they had cleared out.

"We don't have anybody in the community hall anymore," said Revega. "They've all spread out to stay with friends and relatives. A few have been put up in hotels that don't have anybody in the area."

Revega said despite the situation, the evacuees were doing their best to stay positive, and some of the men from the community have actually joined the crews that are fighting the fire.

"They're worried, of course, but they're holding their own. Most of them are volunteering to help at the hall and with the fire."