Wildfires in France: Police seek volunteers for deployments in fire-hit areas

France – 28 July 2026: In view of the severe wildfires, the French National Police have called on their staff to volunteer for deployments in the affected regions. According to Franceinfo, the missions are to last no more than two weeks. Officers will not be deployed to fight the fires, but will take on duties that relieve firefighters and emergency services: securing roads, assisting with evacuations, maintaining public order and protecting evacuated communities.

The appeal comes at a time when the departments of Gironde and Landes in particular are affected by exceptionally large fires. The Interior Ministry said on 27 July that 116,085 hectares had burned in France since the beginning of the year. In Gironde, the largest fire of the season so far had triggered the evacuation of 220,000 people. In the Landes department, 30,000 people were affected by precautionary evacuations, according to the ministry.

For residents, an evacuation order marks the beginning of an often uncertain waiting period. They must leave their homes, follow designated routes and initially do not know when they will be able to return. Additional police officers are therefore to be deployed at roadblocks, along evacuation routes and in deserted residential areas. There, they are to prevent onlookers from blocking emergency access routes or vacant homes and businesses from becoming targets for burglaries.

The Gendarmerie recently mobilized 440 personnel in Gironde, including four mobile units. They assisted with evacuations and secured the fire zones. According to official information, drones, a helicopter and maritime units were also deployed. Due to a fire near Biscarrosse, the prefecture in the Landes department ordered the precautionary evacuation of Parentis-en-Born, which has around 8,000 residents.

The voluntary missions are intended to relieve deployed units through limited rotations. At the same time, officers’ home stations must remain operational. In large-scale fires, this personnel planning is particularly difficult because danger zones can shift quickly due to wind and smoke, and further evacuations may become necessary at short notice.

In addition to the police, Gendarmerie, fire service and civil protection, the military and European partners are also involved. The French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated on 27 July that German support included two CH-53 transport helicopters for operations in Gironde. Through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, a further nine aircraft and two helicopters were to be made available on 28 July. The police volunteers complement these ground forces by keeping access routes clear and monitoring returns to evacuated communities.