Firefighters in Germany struggled to contain wildfires on Sunday amid an unusual heat wave in Western Europe for this time of year. The country’s national weather agency said the mercury reached 39.2 C in the eastern cities of Dresden and Cottbus.

Strong winds have been fanning a blaze near the town of Treuenbrietzen, about 50 km southwest of Berlin, prompting officials to order 3 villages evacuated.

About 600 people in Frohnsdorf, Tiefenbrunnen and Klausdorf were told to immediately seek shelter at a community center.

More than 1,400 firefighters, soldiers and civil defense experts were deployed to tackle the blaze, which also affected a former military training area known to be contaminated with ammunition.