Approximately 20,000 people were evacuated Thursday as a wildfire spread through a forested area near Lège-Cap Ferret, a town on France’s Atlantic coast southwest of Bordeaux. Authorities deployed around 700 firefighters, including reinforcements from the Paris region, to contain the blaze, which has consumed more than 12 square miles (about 8,400 acres) of land.

The fire threatened residential areas, coming within approximately 800 feet of the first homes in Lège-Cap Ferret. Local officials reported no injuries as the evacuation efforts were underway. Among those moved to safety were tourists staying in holiday camps and campgrounds around the affected zones.

Water-bombing aircraft were utilized to help control the spread of the flames amid ongoing high temperatures and dry conditions that have contributed to this and other recent wildfires in the region. Sophie Brocas, the prefect of the Gironde department, oversaw the response and emphasized the scale of the operation aimed at protecting lives and property.

This wildfire is part of a series of blazes that have impacted several areas along France’s Atlantic coast during this summer, prompting large-scale evacuations and the mobilization of hundreds of firefighting personnel. Emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely as they work to prevent further spread into populated areas.