CASCAIS, Portugal - Aided by local residents, hundreds of Portuguese firefighters scrambled on Tuesday to put out flames sweeping across a natural park near the popular holiday destination of Cascais, with strong winds complicating efforts to tackle the blaze.

The wildfire started at 5pm (12am Singapore time on Wednesday) in a mountainous area that is part of the Sintra-Cascais natural park, which covers around 145 sq km of land and is located west of the capital Lisbon.

Backed by 189 vehicles, more than 600 firefighters were brought in after the fire broke out. Water-bombing planes also battled the blaze, but had to stop operating as the night set in.

At one of the villages affected by the fire, desperate residents took matters into their own hands. They tried to protect their homes using buckets of water and hosepipes, as strong winds fanned the flames.

“The fear now is that it will get to the houses,” said 34-year-old resident Ines Figueiredo as smoke filled the air.

“We try to help as much as we can with buckets (of water)… but it’s not worth much.”

Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras said gusts of up to 60kmh were the biggest challenge ahead, and that a number of people had been evacuated as a precaution.

Residents used wheelchairs to help evacuate those with mobility problems.

“They (firefighters) do what they can,” said Mr Miguel Medeiros, a local resident who helped fight the flames. “It’s difficult for everyone.”

No houses have been damaged and no major injuries reported, according to the authorities.

European Union data shows that Portugal, which has so far escaped the recent heatwave causing deaths and destruction across southern Europe, is usually one of the countries in the bloc worse hit by wildfires.

Extreme weather in July has caused havoc across the planet, with record temperatures in China, the United States and southern Europe sparking forest fires, water shortages and a rise in heat-related hospital admissions. REUTERS