Sweden forest fire kills 1; about 1,000 evacuated

A helicopter dumps its load of water on the wildfire just outside the evacuated village of Gammelby near Sala, Central Sweden, Monday, Aug. 4, 2014. The fire, covering thousands of hectares, is in its fifth day and firefighters believe it will burn for weeks or even months. It is classified as the worst forest fire in Sweden's modern history. (AP Photo/Fredrik Sandberg, TT News Agency) SWEDEN OUT (The Associated Press)

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A fire fighting helicopter dumps its load on the wildfire front at the village of Rorbo near Sala, Central Sweden, on Sunday Aug. 3, 2014. The fire has swept over a wide swathe of land for nearly a week, and firefighters predict it will burn for weeks to come. It is classified as the worst forest fire in Sweden's modern history. (AP Photo / Jocke Berglund, file) SWEDEN OUT (The Associated Press)

Home owners and emergency personnel prepare to evacuate a village threatened by the approaching forest fire near Sala, Central Sweden, on Monday Aug. 4, 2014. The fire has swept over a wide swathe of land for nearly a week, and firefighters predict it will burn for weeks to come. It is classified as the worst forest fire in Sweden's modern history. (AP Photo / Fredrik Sandberg) SWEDEN OUT (The Associated Press)

Scores of firefighters in central Sweden are battling a wildfire that has burned 150 square kilometers (60 square miles) of forested land and killed at least one person.

Officials say about 1,000 people have been evacuated from villages and towns threatened by the fire in Vastmanland province, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of Stockholm.

Italy and France have sent firefighting planes to help contain the blaze, one of the biggest forest fires in Sweden in recent decades.

Police say the badly charred body of man in his 30s was found Tuesday in the area. Another man was taken to a hospital with serious burns.

It's unclear what sparked the fire but authorities say unusually hot weather and dry conditions are fueling the flames.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/sweden-forest-fire-kills-1-about-1000-evacuated