Paris  - A brush fire apparently sparked by military target practice is threatening residences in the southern French city of Marseille, France Info radio reported late Wednesday.

Several dozen houses had already caught fire and hundreds of residents of a district in the east of the city had to be evacuated as the flames continued to progress despite the efforts of some 500 firefighters deployed to the area.

About 1,200 hectares of brush were in flames. Eight firefighting aircraft were to be deployed early Thursday to try and contain the blaze.

Although the cause of the fire has not been definitively determined, it was assumed that target practice carried out by soldiers at a nearby army base was to blame.

The regional police chief, Michel Sappin, said that to carry out target practice during a period of high temperatures and no rain was "stupid" and had created "a worrisome and serious situation." (dpa)