People in the southeastern Manitoba town of Vita are waking up to a very different looking place and four familes no longer have a place to live.

Their houses burned down as grass fires raged through the area on Tuesday, also destroying a bridge on Highway 201 that led to two vehicles crashing through it.

Thick smoke drifting across the highway prevented drivers from seeing the bridge was out.

Firefighting crews rushed over to help the drivers, who were trapped. Once rescued, they were able to walk away without serious injuries.

The fires began Monday afternoon and were fueled by gusting winds and extremely dry conditions.

“The fire jumped mile roads and was billowing straight into town. There was no recourse to contain the fire at all, it was just a rolling fire," said Jim Swidersky, the area's reeve.

"The velocity of winds threw the fire in an insurmountable way.”

Adding to the challenges, patchy cellphone service in the area posed a challenge to evacuation efforts by municipal officials.

Smoke drifts past a home in the Vita area on Tuesday. (CBC)The foundation is all that's left of this home in the Vita area after wind-fueled grass fires raged through on Tuesday. (CBC)

Many homes along with the local school and a seniors' residence were evacuated, and some area roads were closed, including Highway 503 five kilometres west of Highway 216, and Highway 201 from highways 59 to 302.

By early evening, most people were allowed to return but about 20 families are still being told to stay away.

Calmer winds and cooler temperatures on Wednesday are expected to help the situation. Periods of rain are also forecasted to start in the evening and be mixed with snow through the night.

Premier Greg Selinger plans to visit the fire zone, about 100 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg, on Wednesday morning.

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