CGT calls for additional resources to address the growing wildfire risk

Paris – July 13, 2026: The French fire and rescue services union CGT has criticized the growing gap between the increasing wildfire risk and the available response resources. The backdrop is this season, which began unusually early and has been placing significant strain on safety personnel 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.

CGT is calling above all for increased staffing in departmental fire and rescue services, modernization of vehicles and specialized equipment, and replacement of the firefighting aircraft fleet. At the same time, it is urging stronger public capacities for forest management, weather monitoring, and risk prevention. The union notes that heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather are triggering fires earlier each year and making them more difficult to contain.

The demands are therefore not limited to the number of fire engines or aircraft. CGT sees wildfire prevention as a comprehensive public task. Management of forest areas, spatial planning near risk zones, and staffing of government agencies must be coordinated with the response capacity of fire services. This logic connects the immediate burden on personnel in the field with long-term adaptation to changing climate risks.

The Interior Ministry emphasizes the capacity expansion decided after the major wildfires of 2022. The state is contributing 150 million euros to so-called fire and rescue service capacity agreements worth a total of 250 million euros. Of the 1,083 planned vehicles, 541 had been delivered by early June, with the number expected to rise to 747 by the end of 2026. In addition, a 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 supporting two additional aircraft jointly with the European Union. According to the government, the civil protection air fleet is expected to expand to 16 Canadair aircraft by 2032. However, deliveries will not take place until after 2028. Current protection capacity therefore still depends heavily on existing resources, preventive forward deployment, and cooperation with European partners.

Institutionally, responsibility remains shared. Departmental services handle most ground response, while the state coordinates national aerial and reinforcement resources through the Directorate General for Civil Protection. The national coordination center in Nîmes-Garons identifies risks at an early stage and moves resources to particularly vulnerable areas. According to civil protection authorities, nearly nine out of ten fires result from human activity. Prevention therefore remains a central element of the national strategy alongside strengthening response resources.