Two fires broke out in the southern part of the Ardèche department on Thursday, September 3, one in the village of Vans and another in Malbosc, according to local authorities. The fires burned through approximately 36 hectares of land, with 11 hectares affected in Vans and 25 hectares in Malbosc, as reported in a preliminary assessment. The fire in Vans, which began in the afternoon, has spread between 25 and 30 hectares and remains uncontained as of Friday, September 4. Firefighters describe the area as difficult to access, which complicates efforts to control the blaze. Around 30 people were evacuated from the affected areas. Some were temporarily housed in the town hall’s hall in Malbosc on Thursday evening and spent the night with local residents. Others were accommodated with family members or at the community hall. This included both villagers and tourists staying at a nearby campsite. Evacuees were regrouped at the town hall on Friday morning, according to the prefecture. A total of nearly 300 firefighters were deployed to combat the fires on Thursday. This included 220 firefighters and forest firefighters, supported by significant aerial and ground resources. Approximately fifty ground vehicles, two Dash aircraft, eight Canadair aircraft, and three helicopters were used in the effort. Military personnel from the Ardèche gendarmerie were also deployed to secure the area and assist the firefighters. Several aircraft dropped fire retardant during the day but stopped their operations overnight. The wind has calmed at the site, but the high temperatures remain a concern for firefighters. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius in southern Ardèche on Friday, with the region under an orange heatwave alert from Météo-France. Firefighters are urging the public to avoid the area to allow rescue vehicles to access the site freely. They also remind people to follow instructions and not approach the area. The sub-prefect of Largentière, Françoise Piterboth, is currently at the site overseeing the response. Authorities have emphasized that all relevant state services are working to control the fires. The prefecture is reminding the public of the importance of avoiding risky behaviors, such as discarding cigarette butts or having barbecues in high-risk areas, to prevent future fires.