Hot, dry conditions have turned parts of the Prairies into a tinderbox, as wildfires torched rural homes this weekend and forced people to flee communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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. MT, the winds had started to pick up again.

"The fire is still partially contained," she said, explaining that there is a fire line around 90 per cent of the blaze. The Alberta Ministry of Sustainable Resources Development "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."

Revega 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.

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.

"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."

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.

In Saskatchewan, RCMP, along with regional fire departments, responded to the grass fire that roared toward Tadmore, 350 kilometres east of Saskatoon.

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

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 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," Revega said. "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."