additional resources for firefighters

After the violent fires of summer 2022, the toll is heavy: 72,000 hectares burned in France. This is six times more than the annual average for the past decade. The lack of resources allocated to firefighters had been controversial. To prevent the scenario from repeating itself, Emmanuel Macron unveiled an emergency air rearmament plan on Friday, October 28. The Head of State announced the replacement of the twelve current Canadairs, the purchase of four additional Canadairs and the acquisition of two water bomber helicopters.

An envelope of 150 million euros is also allocated from next year to the departmental fire and rescue services. The announcements were hailed by firefighters. “There is a consideration at the highest level of the State of the problem of climate change”, comments Éric Florès, general controller of the Hérault fire brigade. To restore life to the devastated forests this summer, the government also wants to embark on a dizzying project: the establishment of a billion trees within ten years.