LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – High winds fueled two massive grass fires in southern Alberta on Monday, prompting precautionary evacuations in at least three communities.

Residents of Coalhurst and Milk River, with populations of 2,200 and 800 respectively, were ordered out of their homes, along with rural residents in the region and residents on the Blood reserve.

A mobile home park was also cleared out in the much larger city of Lethbridge, which declared a state of emergency as thick black smoke filled the sky.

By late Monday evening, however, the winds calmed down and the situation began to improve with the help of water bombers which knocked back the flames.

Officials in Milk River decided to play it safe and told residents to stay away overnight.

But residents of Coalhurst were told they could go home, though rural residents of the County of Lethbridge remained under an evacuation order.