France Steps Up Protection Against Wildfires

Draguignan – 01.08.2026: At forest access roads, campsites and dried-out paths, gendarmerie checks have become part of the summer routine. Following a series of severe vegetation fires, France is stepping up prevention efforts. In the Var department, emergency personnel patrol particularly at-risk areas, secure fire sites and keep access routes clear so that firefighting vehicles can pass without obstruction.

The situation is tense. According to the government, 13,550 vegetation fires have been recorded nationwide since the start of the season; nearly 116,000 hectares have been affected by the flames. In Var, a fire that has been burning since 21 July has affected 5,400 hectares, according to the government. Evacuations or restrictions were in force for parts of the municipalities of Correns, Châteauvert, Barjols and Brue-Auriac.

Prevention begins with specific rules of conduct. Open fires and barbecuing in or near forests may be prohibited when the risk level is high. Cigarette butts must not be thrown onto paths or out of car windows. Work that produces sparks, such as using angle grinders, should be avoided when the fire risk is high. Firewood, gas cylinders and other highly flammable materials should also not be stored directly next to house walls.

The gendarmerie combines a visible presence with technical surveillance. More than 4,000 reservists support regular personnel during the summer with patrols, traffic checks and the monitoring of sensitive areas. Depending on the terrain, drones, quad bikes, off-road motorcycles and mounted units are deployed. Joint patrols with the National Forest Office and the French Office for Biodiversity are intended to detect violations early and report fire outbreaks quickly.

As soon as a fire breaks out, the search for its cause begins alongside firefighting operations. Specialized investigation teams work with the fire service, gendarmerie and forestry experts. In Var, the Brignoles investigative brigade, under the direction of the Draguignan public prosecutor’s office, is examining the major fire. Whether negligence, a technical defect or deliberate action is involved must be determined separately for each fire.

The latest official figures, dated 27 July, record a total of 162 arrests linked to fire investigations since 6 July. By that date, five non-suspended prison sentences had been imposed; 15 suspects were in pre-trial detention. Arrests, however, do not establish guilt. That is decided by the courts once investigations have been completed.

Anyone who notices smoke or flames should immediately alert the fire service by calling 18 or the European emergency number 112 and describe the location as precisely as possible. An early report increases the chance of containing the fire before wind and parched vegetation endanger homes and people.