Updated: Fri May. 16 2008 17:33:46

ctvedmonton.ca

Homeowners living in the Slave Lake area are crediting firefighters for saving their houses Friday after two forest fires swept through the area and threatened a series of villages.

The first bush fire broke out Tuesday night in a strip of land just north of Highway 2 near Wagner, Alta.

Fire investigators said the blaze was spreading 20 metres a minute, with flames reaching 40 metres above the tree tops.

Slave Lake Wildlife Operations Officer Ken Orich said crews were battling a number of fires Tuesday.

"We did have 17 fires yesterday and this one ended up being lucky number 13," he said.

The high winds spread the fire over 155 hectares. Fire crews started evacuating the area Friday when the fast-moving flames came dangerously close to some houses.

Homeowner Randy Zuberbrier said he was watching the blaze from the beginning.

"All the trees were still glowing, there were fires still happening," he said.

Orich said firefighters finally got the flames under control Friday afternoon.

"With current weather and the current resources we have on the fire has not grown since last night," he said.

Zuberbrier said he owes his home to the brave men and women who worked to control the blaze.

"I can't say enough about the initial response," he said.

No homes were damaged in the fire. No injuries have been reported.

A second fire also started in an area north of Slave Lake, just east of the park, late Thursday.

Officials said no one is threatened by the fire and it is contained to a forested area in Marten Mountain.

With files from Deborah Shiry