More than 500 troops were fighting a wildfire that rapidly burned at least 3,800 hectares (about 9,400 acres) in the mountainous area of Spain’s Valencia region, forcing residents to evacuate on March 24, El Pais reported, citing a local official.

About 1,500 people have been evacuated from the areas of Castellon and Teruel, Valencia’s Minister of Justice, Interior, and Public Administration, Gabriela Bravo, said. The Guardia Civil said it was aiding in evacuating elderly residents from the region overnight.

An alert remained for 40 km/h (25 mph) winds on Friday afternoon, Bravo said.

Video posted by the Valencian government’s Emergency Coordination Center showed smoke rising from the mountain side as a plane makes a drop on the fire. Credit: Emergencies 112CV via Storyful