Caroit rejects criticism of France’s firefighting capacity

Paris – 04 August 2026: Minister Delegate Éléonore Caroit has rejected the accusation that France has insufficient domestic capacity to combat forest and vegetation fires. The criticism was a “spurious accusation,” she said on Tuesday. Caroit noted that, according to the government, public funding for firefighting had increased from 450 million to 800 million euros. Her statement comes amid severe fires and growing doubts about the operational readiness of France’s firefighting aircraft.

The government bases its position on the expansion of the entire civil protection system, rather than solely on the number of water bombers. In June, the Interior Ministry ordered two additional Canadair aircraft; the investment amounts to nearly 200 million euros. The aircraft are intended to supplement the existing Canadair fleet of twelve planes. In the long term, the ministry’s plans provide for the renewal and expansion of the amphibious firefighting aircraft fleet.

Criticism is focused primarily on the lengthy procurement period. According to a parliamentary response, two Canadair aircraft financed with European funds will not be delivered until 2028. The latest order therefore creates no additional capacity for the current fire season. Several members of parliament also point to the high average age of the existing fleet. Maintenance work and technical failures can temporarily reduce the number of aircraft actually available.

The Interior Ministry counters that France has a broader arsenal. It includes firefighting helicopters, Dash aircraft, reconnaissance planes, as well as mobile units of the fire service and military civil protection. According to the ministry, 51 operational reinforcement columns with a total of 3,500 personnel and more than 700 specialized vehicles are planned for 2026. Three additional bases in Niort, Rodez and Dole are intended to improve ground response capacity.

This is supplemented by trials involving an Airbus A400M. On 17 July, the Interior and Defense Ministries agreed with Airbus to equip a military transport aircraft with a drop system on a trial basis. Because of its different operational profile, the A400M cannot replace the Canadair fleet. However, in exceptionally large fires, it could provide additional drop capacity and reduce dependence on a small number of specialized aircraft types.

The debate over national sovereignty also touches on European cooperation. France can activate the RescEU mechanism when necessary and request additional aircraft from other member states. This mutual assistance expands the reserves available, but does not replace a fleet permanently stationed in France. The government therefore relies on a combination of national procurement and European support.

The high fire pressure is intensifying the political dispute. According to the Interior Ministry, 116,085 hectares in France had already been affected by fires since the start of the year. Major operations were most recently under way in Gironde and the Landes department. A fire south of the Bassin d’Arcachon led to the evacuation of 30,000 people. Caroit’s reference to higher budgets therefore addresses the funding issue, but not the criticism over delivery deadlines, maintenance requirements and firefighting aircraft available at short notice.