According to firefighters, the big fire that has burned over 600 hectares in Gard's north since Thursday night "is still active" Friday morning. They are currently preparing for a new day with 700 men and woman on the site.
"It's continuing, but it is moving slower and no longer threatens housing," said a Gard spokesperson by telephone on Friday morning. He also stated that many of the fire's edges are "not accessible".
The air resources resumed their drops at daybreak on Friday with two Milan engaged starting at 6 a.m.
Around 5 p.m. on Thursday, the fire broke out in Bordezac at the Ardeche's edge, north of Ales. According to the prefecture, 100 people were moved to this hamlet and some others from Besseges.
According to civil security's tweet, 700 firefighters and rescuers were quickly added to the ranks of Gard firefighters.
Firefighters reported that there were "thousands upon hectares at danger" in the heavily wooded area. The fire was being stoked by extreme weather conditions, such as a strong wind and dry trees, around midnight on Thursday.
Jean Rampon, sub-prefect for Ales, was concerned about Thursday night's "a spectacle de desolation" and the possibility of a fire on the Ceze bank, "where 10,000 hectares of land had burned in 1985".
Thursday saw multiple fires in Gard, Bouches-du Rhone and other places. Fortunately, most of them were put out before it got dark.
