More than 250 people were evacuated from their homes near Savona, northwestern Italy, as strong winds fed a wildfire four kilometres (2.5 miles) wide, local officials and rescue workers said Monday.

People living in three villages around the Ligurian coastal town of Vado Ligure were evacuated at the weekend, local mayor Attilio Caviglia told the Sky TG24 news channel.

More than 1,000 firefighters and emergency staff, backed by five water-bombing Canadair aircraft and two helicopters, were mobilised to fight the blaze which broke out overnight Saturday and quickly destroyed 200 hectares (500 acres) of forest.

Authorities were forced to close part of the A10 motorway leading to the French border as the wind reached more than 90 kilometres (55 miles) an hour.

The evacuated residents were returned home on Monday.

Smoke from the wildfire blackened houses and destroyed garden sheds but no greater damage was caused, Caviglia said. One resident suffered minor burns to his hands.

Investigators from the forestry service launched a probe into the cause of the blaze.

Witnesses said a man had been seen near the scene of the outbreak just beforehand, while others spoke of teenagers setting off fireworks in the vicinity.