A wildfire in Yangyang County, Gangwon Province, that raged for hours and forced the evacuation of dozens has been extinguished.

According to authorities, the fire started at a warehouse in Sacheon-ri township after 10 p.m. Thursday evening, then spread to a nearby hill due to windy weather. 

Dozens of fire trucks and other equipment were mobilized, as well as more than a thousand personnel from the county, military and police. The flames were finally doused six hours later at around 4:15 a.m. after scorching through 65-thousand square meters of forest.

A defense line was erected at one point when the blaze approached a nearby town.

Eighty-four residents in 40 households took shelter at a community center but most have returned home with no casualties yet reported. Six buildings including homes were damaged.

Authorities will continue to monitor residual embers as strong winds could cause another flare up at any time.