French authorities evacuated 525 villagers after a wildfire broke out in ​the pine woods of the southwestern Landes region, ‌near an area already devastated by major blazes this summer.

The fire, which razed 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) after it began ​on Thursday, spread to within 2 km (1.2 ​miles) of the centre of the village of ⁠Luglon, regional official Gilles Clavreul told reporters on ​Friday.

“The situation is unfavourable,” he said, adding that ​500 firefighters were tackling the flames, with the help of six aircraft sent to assist.

Police have taken to safety 525 ​in the village, with road links to the ​north and south closed.

Luglon is about 100 km (62 miles) southeast of ‌the ⁠tourist area of Arcachon Bay, where two major wildfires devastated more than 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres), spurring the evacuation of as many as 220,000 people in ​late July.

The ​area has broiled ⁠in heatwaves this summer, and temperatures are expected to soar to 36 ​degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) on Friday afternoon, in ​France’s ⁠unprecedented wildfire season.

The area burned so far exceeds that of the previous record year of 2022. The Landes ⁠area ​is swathed in pine forests ​that become highly flammable when dry.