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Firefighters battle blazes in Spain's Valencia region

STORY: A fire in Vall d’Ebo, near Alicante, started on Saturday after a thunderstorm, forcing 1,000 locals to evacuate their homes.

In nearby Castellon firefighters struggled to control a blaze at Les Useres which flared up on Sunday morning and spread quickly through tinder-dry undergrowth.

The Valencia region faced three big forest fires on Sunday, including Vall d’Ebo, Les Useres and Calles.

Spain's weather agency AEMET said weather conditions were "very unfavorable" due to strong and erratic wind gusts plus high temperatures reaching 98 degrees Fahrenheit in the area.

Military Emergency Unit (UME) forces were deployed at Valencia’s wildfires to back up local firefighters.