A large wildfire broke out in the southern Albanian coastal city of Himara on Friday evening, with flames rapidly spreading across the hills near the 1 Maji neighborhood.

The fire is threatening nearby homes as well as areas of orchards and agricultural land in the vicinity.

Local residents have joined firefighters on the ground, helping emergency crews in their efforts to bring the blaze under control.

Strong winds are making the situation more difficult and are fueling the rapid spread of the flames. Firefighters have requested additional support from neighboring municipalities.

For now, emergency crews are focused on containing the fire’s advance, preventing it from spreading further and protecting nearby homes and residents.