Three grass fires that raged across southern Alberta yesterday are now under control with no injuries reported, though at least two homes were destroyed near Nanton, Alta., and other structural damage is yet to be assessed.
Winds in excess of 100 km/h were a factor in the fires, one of which burned 10 kilometres northwest of Fort Macleod, another east of Nanton and another along the Alberta-Saskatchewan border near Walsh.
Fire officials were not available for comment this morning, having spent yesterday fighting fires and putting out hot spots as winds slowed.
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Highway 2 south of Granum was closed for part of the day because of smoke, fire risk and winds that overturned multiple semi-trailer trucks. Gusts up to 122 km/h were recorded at Claresholm and Pincher Creek.
Some residents in the Municipal District of Willow Creek, which surrounds the towns of Fort Macleod, Granum, Claresholm and Nanton, were told to evacuate as fires spread. Emergency centres were set up in Fort Macleod and Claresholm to accommodate them.
The Nanton area fire, which burned an estimated 60 sq. km, according to media reports, was reportedly caused by a downed power line pushed over by wind. Causes of the other fires are still under investigation.
Fire bans are in place within the MD of Willow Creek, County of Lethbridge, MD of Taber and other regions of southern Alberta.
A wind warning has been issued again today for most of the southwest.
