Dispute over Time Off for Volunteer Firefighters: Union Calls It State Failure After Appeal by Interior Minister Nuñez

Paris – 10.07.2026: Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez instructed the prefects on July 9 to raise employers’ awareness of the release of volunteer firefighters in order to quickly mobilize additional forces in view of numerous vegetation fires. Sources close to the ministry said the climatic conditions were exceptional and that operations coordination would be strengthened. At the same time, the ministry pointed to an action plan 2026–2028 presented in June to strengthen volunteering in the fire service.

The Syndicat des sapeurs-pompiers volontaires (SSPVF) reacted unusually sharply. In a statement, the union described the repeated pleas for releases as a symptom of a structural deficit and spoke of a „faillite de l’État“, a failure of the state. Short-term appeals do not replace robust framework conditions, the organization said. It criticized the lack of legal guarantees for employees who are called up as volunteers for operations, as well as gaps in the financing and equipment of the Service départemental d’incendie et de secours (SDIS).

Specifically, the SSPVF demands binding rules on release, clear employment-law protections — for example regarding wage replacement and protection from professional disadvantages — as well as reliable funding of operational capacities. The background is the strong role of volunteering: around two-thirds of firefighters in France are volunteers and particularly support hazard response in rural regions. Responsibility for budgets and personnel lies largely with the Départements, which complicates national directives and reinforces regional differences.

The Interior Ministry points to ongoing talks with social partners and local authorities, measures to recruit new personnel, and improvements in training and equipment. No concrete legislative changes have been announced so far. Observers note that clear rules for release in tense situations could help avoid bottlenecks, but the economy also needs planning certainty when employees are absent at short notice.

The current debate is particularly pressing against the backdrop of persistent heat and dry spells. In several Départements, forces recently had to be moved to affected zones within hours; local services reported partly high strain from simultaneous operations. For volunteers, besides rapid relief the main issue is reliability: those called away from their workplace during the day need protection from disadvantages; those who regularly step in need solid equipment on site. Whether the minister’s appeal will result in binding rules is likely to become clear in the coming weeks — the decisive factor is whether the state, Départements and employers agree on common standards for release.