Government mobilizes all necessary resources against fires – Health Ministry publishes first heat-wave toll

Paris – 03.07.2026: The French government spokeswoman, Maud Brégeon, said on Friday in a television appearance that the state had mobilized all necessary resources to fight the large-scale wildfires in the south of the country. The statement followed reports of several simultaneous fires that are tying up local emergency services and air support. According to the government, prefectures, the fire brigade, the gendarmerie, civil protection and military air resources were closely coordinated to respond quickly to changing fire situations.

Brégeon emphasized coordination between the responsible ministries, the prefectures and civil protection after the Prime Minister convened a crisis cell. Priority is to concentrate forces where fire fronts are most dangerous, to organize evacuations quickly and to protect critical infrastructure such as hospitals, energy facilities and transport routes. Prefects have been instructed to strictly enforce local bans on open fires and, if necessary, to temporarily close access roads to particularly vulnerable forest areas.

Parallel to firefighting efforts, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist presented initial information on the health toll of the recent heatwave. A preliminary analysis by Santé publique France indicates increased excess mortality during the observation period. Concrete, consolidated figures are to be presented in the coming weeks. According to the ministry, hospitals and emergency services are preparing for sustained strain; the hospital emergency and supply arrangement for hospitals (ORSAN) is activated in affected regions to relieve emergency departments, create additional bed capacity and coordinate transfers.

Météo-France reports persistently high temperatures and dry conditions in parts of the south, which increase the fire risk. Authorities called on municipalities, forestry services and event organizers to strengthen prevention measures: keep vegetation strips clear, keep access routes open for emergency vehicles, adapt outdoor events to heat peaks and strictly prohibit risky behavior—such as barbecuing near forests or discarding smoldering cigarettes. Citizens are asked to heed warnings from the prefectures and to look out for vulnerable people during heat events.

In the political debate, long-term adaptations are moving more into focus. Among the measures being discussed are more intensive forest management, better water management, the expansion of firebreaks and a permanent strengthening of the aerial fleet for firefighting. The government points to the resources currently deployed and announces that, after the acute phase, it will present an evaluation of the operations to further improve procedures for prevention, alerting and crisis coordination.