A large wildfire erupted in a dune plantation near Skagen, Denmark, on Monday afternoon, prompting authorities to urge civilians to evacuate the area. The fire, described as powerful, is concentrated in Skagen Klitplantage (Skagen Dune Plantation), located less than ten kilometers south of Skagen.

The fire department received an alarm shortly after 2 PM regarding a fire near Den Tilsandede Kirke (The Buried Church), also known as Sankt Laurentii Kirke, a medieval church situated in the dunes west of Skagen. Firefighters are currently focusing their efforts on containing the blaze within the plantation.

Emergency services, including firefighters from numerous stations in North Jutland and the Danish Emergency Management Agency, are “massively” present in the vicinity of Gl. Landevej (Old Country Road) and Skagen Hede (Skagen Heath). Police issued an appeal to motorists to yield to emergency vehicles.

Due to the ongoing situation, police have closed the cycle path heading north from Hulsig. A significant plume of smoke is visible from within Skagen.