Authorities in Spain's northeastern Tarragona province ordered over 18,000 people to stay indoors on Tuesday (July 8) and evacuated several dozen residents as a wildfire burned uncontrollably, scorching nearly 3,000 hectares (about 7,413 acres) of land. With much of Spain on high wildfire alert following its hottest June on record, concerns have intensified—especially after two people died in a wildfire on July 1 in Catalonia, where Tarragona is located.

The current blaze began early Monday in a remote area near the village of Pauls. Firefighting efforts have been hindered by strong winds and rough terrain. More than 300 firefighters and a military emergency unit were deployed to battle the fire. "Since midnight, crews have been confronting the blaze amid gusts reaching 90 km/h," said Catalonia’s regional fire service, noting that the fierce Mistral winds were expected to calm by the afternoon. Throughout the night, fire engines navigated the winding roads of the Pauls Mountains, surrounded by advancing flames, as teams worked to assess and contain the fire.

In the nearby villages of Xerta and Aldover, residents endured a restless night as the fire approached dangerously close to their homes. “There was a lot of fear and crying. We’re right on the edge of the fire. Last night, with the wind pushing flames and smoke toward us, we couldn’t even leave the house. It was terrifying—something like this has never happened before,” said 76-year-old Rosa Veleda to Reuters. Firefighters managed to stop the blaze from crossing the Ebro River, which would have significantly worsened the situation. Officials said around 30% of the burned area lies within the Ports Natural Park and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.