A worsening wildfire that kept advancing through forest land and prompted the evacuation of nearly 1,000 residents has claimed the life of one firefighter, authorities in southern Spain said.

The blaze in a mountain range of the province of Málaga broke out late on Wednesday and grew, fanned by winds of up to 50km/h that constantly shifted directions. Nine hundred and forty people were evacuated near the resort town of Estepona and three other municipalities, the Andalusia regional authorities said.

The region’s fire service, Infoca, said a 44-year-old firefighter perished as a result of burns caused by the flames. The victim was part of a crew of nearly 300 firefighters working on the ground helped by 29 planes and helicopters, authorities said.