Several villages in the Vastmanland region were evacuated on Monday (August 4) and the County Administrative Board warned the roughly 5,000 inhabitants of Norberg they might have to go shortly too.
It said the fire, declared a matter of national concern, had enveloped a heavily forested area measuring about 15 km by 10 km.
Emergency crews were working hard to contain the blaze and the board said on its website that the situation was serious.
The fire broke out after an unusual spell of hot, dry summer weather in northern Europe.
The European Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre said on Monday two Italian firefighting aircraft were on their way to the affected region and local media said they were due to arrive around midday on Tuesday. REUTERS