CGT demands increased funding to address the growing risk of forest fires

Paris – July 13, 2026: The CGT trade union representing France’s fire and rescue services says that the gap between the risk of forest fires and the available response resources is widening. This comes against the backdrop of a fire season that began significantly earlier than usual and has placed a heavy burden on security and rescue services in several regions for weeks. According to the Directorate General for Civil Protection, more than 25,000 hectares had already been affected by fires by July 10.

The CGT is calling in particular for increased staffing in departmental fire and rescue services, modernization of vehicles and specialized equipment, and renewal of the firefighting aircraft fleet. At the same time, it is urging stronger public capacity in forest management, weather monitoring, and risk prevention. The union notes that heat, drought, and extreme weather are bringing the fire season forward to earlier periods of the year and making firefighting more difficult.

The demands therefore do not concern only the number of fire engines and aircraft. For the CGT, fire prevention is a cross-cutting public task. The management of forest areas, spatial planning around high-risk zones, and staffing of state agencies must be coordinated with firefighting response capacity. The position links the immediate burden on operational personnel with long-term adaptation to changing climate risks.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior points to expansion measures decided after the major fires of 2022. The state is contributing 150 million euros out of a total of 250 million euros to support so-called capacity agreements for fire and rescue services. Of the 1,083 vehicles planned, 541 had been delivered by early June, with 747 expected by the end of 2026. In addition, the fourth civil protection training and response regiment was established in Libourne in 2025.

Aerial resources are also being gradually expanded. France has ordered two new Canadair aircraft for around 200 million euros and is jointly financing two more with the European Union. According to the government, the civil protection aircraft fleet is expected to grow to 16 Canadairs by 2032. However, deliveries will not take place until 2028 at the earliest. Current protection therefore continues to depend heavily on existing resources, preventive pre-positioning, and cooperation with European partners.

Institutionally, responsibilities remain shared. Departmental services carry out most ground operations, while the state coordinates nationwide aerial and reinforcement resources through the Directorate General for Civil Protection. The national coordination center in Nîmes-Garons is responsible for identifying risks early and deploying resources to particularly high-risk areas. According to civil protection authorities, nearly nine out of ten fires are caused by human activity. Prevention therefore remains a central element of the national strategy alongside strengthening response resources.