  In the present work we study the C8 flare occurred on September 26, 2000 at
19:49 UT and observed by the SOHO/SUMER spectrometer from the beginning of the
impulsive phase to well beyond the disappearance in the X-rays. The emission
first decayed progressively through equilibrium states until the plasma reached
2-3 MK. Then, a series of cooler lines, i.e. Ca x, Ca vii, Ne vi, O iv and Si
iii (formed in the temperature range log T = 4.3 - 6.3 under equilibrium
conditions), are emitted at the same time and all evolve in a similar way. Here
we show that the simultaneous emission of lines with such a different formation
temperature is due to thermal instability occurring in the flaring plasma as
soon as it has cooled below ~ 2 MK. We can qualitatively reproduce the relative
start time of the light curves of each line in the correct order with a simple
(and standard) model of a single flaring loop. The agreement with the observed
light curves is greatly improved, and a slower evolution of the line emission
is predicted, if we assume that the model loop consists of an ensemble of
subloops or strands heated at slightly different times. Our analysis can be
useful for flare observations with SDO/EVE.
