Nearly 500 firefighters were battling to contain a new wildfire in southern France on Tuesday that has forced the evacuation of a village and burned through 500 hectares (1,235 acres) of forest and vineyards, local officials said. Residents in Aumelas, a settlement of 500 people 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of Montpellier, have been ordered to leave their homes as winds carry the flames towards them. "We could see on the hill that the fire was progressing, then afterwards we went home because the air was beginning to be a bit stuffy and it was stinging our eyes and at around 5pm the police came knocking loudly at the door asking us to evacuate immediately, telling us that everything was burning and since then we have been outside in the car," explains a resident who was evacuated. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES