In pictures: Chilean forest fire destroys more than 500 homes on hills

The fire was fueled by strong Pacific coast winds, (Cesar Pincheira / Reuters / April 12, 2014

Authorities decreed a red alert for the area after the fire consumed more than 100 houses. (Felipe Gamboa / AFP / April 12, 2014)

Ambulance crews treated residents for smoke inhalation as the fire engulfed block after block and set off some small explosions. (Cesar Pincheira / Reuters / April 12, 2014)

The incident began as a forest fire on the road La Polvora, but strong wind made it propagating in the populated hills areas of La Cruz, El Vergel and Mariposas. (EPA / April 12, 2014)

Nearly 12 hours after the blaze began, sirens still howled and ash fell throughout the normally picturesque hills of Valparaiso as firefighters struggled to bring the flames under control. (EPA / April 12, 2014)

The strong winds and thick smoke kept fire-fighting helicopters and planes grounded at least until daybreak. (Felipe Gamboa / AFP / April 12, 2014)

More than 3,000 people have so far been evacuated from their homes on the heights above Valparaiso. (EPA / April 12, 2014)

Many residents overnight watched, helpless, from distant vantage points as the hills burned bright red. Thick smoke clouded the sky. (EPA / April 12, 2014)

An enormous fire ripped through parts of the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Saturday and into Sunday, killing two people, destroying at least 500 houses and causing the evacuation of thousands of residents.