Mayors’ Association Directs Wildfire Aid First to Civil Protection

Paris – 30 July 2026: The French mayors’ association AMF intends to make relief funds collected by municipalities available first to Civil Protection for areas affected by wildfires. According to the association, the money is primarily intended to finance ongoing emergency relief measures. Municipalities in the Gironde department and in Var have been particularly affected, where emergency services have been battling severe forest and vegetation fires for days.

On 27 July, the AMF called on mayors and municipal associations across the country to provide rapid financial support. The association cited exceptionally severe consequences for numerous municipalities. Immediate assistance is focused on evacuating residents at risk, setting up emergency shelters, providing psychological support and supplying everyday necessities.

According to the AMF, processing the aid through Civil Protection is intended to ensure that equipment and donations are deployed specifically where they are needed in the response effort. The organization is responsible in the affected regions for evacuations, caring for people in emergency shelters and logistical supply. According to the organization, more than 300 Civil Protection volunteers were recently mobilized in connection with the fires in Gironde and Landes alone.

In Gironde, the fires near the Arcachon Basin had already triggered extensive protective measures from 22 July onward. The National Gendarmerie reported the precautionary evacuation of 20,000 people during the first days. On 27 July, the Interior Ministry referred to major fire incidents, particularly in Gironde and Landes; extensive operations were also continuing in Var.

The municipal donations are explicitly intended as the first phase of longer-term assistance. Once the scale of the damage has been established, the AMF said further funds will be used for accommodation, reconstruction and support for the affected municipalities. The association announced that it would regularly provide information together with Civil Protection on how the aid is being used during the acute response phase.

Alongside municipal aid, state forces and other organizations are also involved in the response. The Interior Ministry had activated national resources and European support for the severe fire incidents. Companies in Gironde were also called upon to provide construction machinery, water vehicles and drivers so that the fire service could deploy additional technical resources if needed.

By prioritizing Civil Protection, the AMF is initially directing financial support toward protecting and assisting the affected population. Only after the acute operations have concluded will the association shift its focus to the long-term consequences for municipalities, including damaged infrastructure, housing and municipal facilities.