The annual meetings of the Adem took place on September 25, focusing on the theme of fighting fires. These gatherings brought together farmers and other stakeholders to tackle a growing security and environmental challenge, particularly in the Drôme region and other affected areas. Around 100 people attended the event, which was held in Solaure-en-Diois, at the foot of the Justin massif. This area has been heavily impacted by forest fires this summer, with over 5,000 hectares of forest destroyed in the Drôme this year—far more than the few hundred hectares typically seen in previous years. Philippe Cahn, president of the Adem, noted that local communes have asked for the reintroduction of pastoralism to help reduce fire risks. The pastoral service has supported the reopening of overgrown areas through territorial pastoral plans that have been in place in the region for less than thirty years. The meeting highlighted the potential for farmers to play a key role in mitigating fire risks by managing vegetation through grazing. To allow for quick intervention in case of fire, wide paths are created in forested areas to let firefighters' vehicles pass. These paths need regular clearing, which can be accomplished through grazing. Olivier Bonnet, a pastoral engineer at the Centre d’études et de réalisations pastorales Alpes-Méditerranée (Cerpam), explained that grazing ruminant herds, especially sheep, from the second half of spring helps clear vegetation at the start of summer. This practice not only reduces the risk of fires starting but also ensures safe access for firefighters. According to Bonnet, grazing can cut the cost of maintaining these paths by up to five times. Farmers can access a specific agro-environmental and climate measure (Maec) aimed at protecting forests from fires (DFCI), which allows them to fund the maintenance of fire defense equipment through grazing. However, this measure requires significant vegetation clearing, as Bonnet emphasized. Property owners are also required to clear a 50-meter radius around their homes to prevent fire risks, as fires often begin at the edge of forests and residential areas. Frédéric Sarret, head of the forest pole at the DDT of the Drôme, noted that this obligation applies only near homes. Olivier Bonnet suggested that pastoralism may not be practical for meeting this legal requirement, as the areas to be grazed are too small and fragmented for large herds. Drôme farmers and firefighters could work together to create firebreaks—strips of land where combustible vegetation is removed. These clearings can be several hundred meters wide and are often located in remote areas where roads cannot be built. In the Paca region, large clearings are maintained by herds, with access to watering provided by fire defense managers, such as local authorities. Farmers are responsible for 20% of the work. Reviving the practice of controlled burning is another method to reopen areas. Sébastien Lahaye, a firefighter officer and founder of a consulting company on fire risk, explained that the goal is to promote open, mosaic-like environments. In regions highly prone to summer fires, a departmental cell coordinates controlled burning, involving firefighters, the Office National des Forêts (ONF), or informing farmers who want to carry out pastoral burning. Farmers and property owners can also perform pastoral burning with authorization. The Drôme may one day establish such a cell, given the expectation of recurring extreme-intensity fires.