French professional firefighters launch a six-week nationwide campaign on Tuesday, demanding more funding, staff and better protection for their health after a summer of unprecedented wildfires.
Issued on: 08/09/2026 - RFI
France's firefighters have been heavily called upon this summer to tackle a series of wildfires, like here in Gironde, and are now campaigning for better pay and more ressources. © Emma Da Silva / AP
At least 120,000 hectares went up in flames in France this summer – a record since satellite imagery was first used to measure wildfires 20 years ago.
Four firefighters died in July, and more than a hundred have been injured over the summer while responding to or travelling to fire incidents.
Faced with such pressure but also an increasing number of emergency call-outs, eight unions are calling for more than six weeks of strike action, beginning Tuesday.
The unions want more financial and material resources, as well as mass recruitment of professional firefighters.
"The system is not suffering from simple poisoning but from cancer," said Rémy Chabbouh, a spokesman for the SUD union. He said the crisis required major treatment and called for "action commensurate with the challenges".
Even if the strike action is widely followed, emergency services are unlikely to be affected.
The country's 44,300 professional firefighters can be ordered to work by fire and rescue services or requisitioned by local state representatives to ensure public services continue.
At least 120,000 hectares went up in flames in France this summer – a record since satellite imagery was first used to measure wildfires 20 years ago.
Four firefighters died in July, and more than a hundred have been injured over the summer while responding to or travelling to fire incidents.
Faced with such pressure but also an increasing number of emergency call-outs, eight unions are calling for more than six weeks of strike action, beginning Tuesday.
The unions want more financial and material resources, as well as mass recruitment of professional firefighters.
"The system is not suffering from simple poisoning but from cancer," said Rémy Chabbouh, a spokesman for the SUD union. He said the crisis required major treatment and called for "action commensurate with the challenges".
Even if the strike action is widely followed, emergency services are unlikely to be affected.
The country's 44,300 professional firefighters can be ordered to work by fire and rescue services or requisitioned by local state representatives to ensure public services continue.
Funding pressures
The campaign begins as the government presents unions with the broad outlines of a proposed civil security law, following a year of consultations launched in mid-2024.
The talks were meant to lead to an ambitious law modernising a system seen as running out of steam, with additional funding. But unions say they have so far produced no results.
Their campaign is due to end on 20 October when parliament begins examining France's 2027 budget.
Unions therefore want to keep up the pressure on the government until then.
France's President Emmanuel Macron thanks personnel engaged in firefighting efforts during a visit to the Departmental Fire and Rescue Operational Center (CODIS) in Bordeaux, 27 July, 2026. via REUTERS - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
Their main demand is for "sustainable, fair and ambitious funding" for local fire and rescue services, known as SDIS whose operating costs rose from €3.9 billion in 2012 to €5.2 billion in 2025, according to the Observatory of Local Public Finance and Management.
"The strike is about funding for the SDIS, not the civil security budget," said Xavier Boy, a spokesman for the inter-union group.
He said the €880 million civil security budget was used for national resources including reinforcements, aircraft, water bombers and helicopters.
Funding for local fire and rescue services amounts to about €6 billion, he said, with the state contributing about €1 billion – a share he described as insufficient.
Emergency assistance
Several parliamentary reports have pointed to growing difficulties as firefighters face more medical emergencies and natural disasters.
Professional firefighters, more than half of whom also serve as part of France's 200,900-strong volunteer brigade, are calling for a greater focus on their core emergency and rescue work.
Emergency assistance to people accounted for more than 4.89 million callouts in 2025, or 87 percent of firefighters' activity.
"We talk about forest fires now. Tomorrow, we'll talk about floods," said Alain Laratta, secretary general of the Avenir Secours union. But firefighters were under pressure all year because they were increasingly being called on for work that was not their responsibility, he said.
Unions plan further action in Paris on 27 and 28 September before a demonstration on 29 September.
(with newswires)
Their main demand is for "sustainable, fair and ambitious funding" for local fire and rescue services, known as SDIS whose operating costs rose from €3.9 billion in 2012 to €5.2 billion in 2025, according to the Observatory of Local Public Finance and Management.
"The strike is about funding for the SDIS, not the civil security budget," said Xavier Boy, a spokesman for the inter-union group.
He said the €880 million civil security budget was used for national resources including reinforcements, aircraft, water bombers and helicopters.
Funding for local fire and rescue services amounts to about €6 billion, he said, with the state contributing about €1 billion – a share he described as insufficient.
Emergency assistance
Several parliamentary reports have pointed to growing difficulties as firefighters face more medical emergencies and natural disasters.
Professional firefighters, more than half of whom also serve as part of France's 200,900-strong volunteer brigade, are calling for a greater focus on their core emergency and rescue work.
Emergency assistance to people accounted for more than 4.89 million callouts in 2025, or 87 percent of firefighters' activity.
"We talk about forest fires now. Tomorrow, we'll talk about floods," said Alain Laratta, secretary general of the Avenir Secours union. But firefighters were under pressure all year because they were increasingly being called on for work that was not their responsibility, he said.
Unions plan further action in Paris on 27 and 28 September before a demonstration on 29 September.
(with newswires)
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