Nearly 1,800 residents have been evacuated from the Hürtgenwald area in western Germany after a rapidly spreading wildfire approached a village in the Eifel region, authorities said Friday.

The fire, fueled by shifting winds, advanced to within about 400 meters (1,300 feet) of the village of Gey, located roughly 45 kilometers southwest of Cologne and near Germany’s border with Belgium.

Authorities declared a “mass damage situation” on Thursday evening as the wildfire intensified. Evacuations began at around 4 a.m. local time Friday, with residents instructed to leave the area as a precaution.

Officials advised evacuees to take only essential belongings, particularly identification documents and medication. Residents were also urged to wear masks where possible because of deteriorating air quality caused by smoke.

An emergency shelter was established at a nearby school to accommodate people forced to leave their homes. Authorities also asked residents requiring assistance during the evacuation to contact emergency services.

Authorities estimate that approximately 25 hectares (62 acres) of forest are currently affected by the blaze, an area equivalent to roughly 35 soccer fields.

Hürtgenwald, in North Rhine-Westphalia near the Belgian border, has a population of around 9,000 people.

Emergency services are continuing efforts to contain the fire and prevent the flames from reaching nearby residential areas. The shifting wind conditions have complicated firefighting operations and increased the risk of further spread.

The evacuation underscores the growing threat posed by wildfires in parts of Europe during periods of hot and dry weather, with authorities closely monitoring the situation around Gey and surrounding communities. (ILKHA)