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The summer fires revealed the glaring lack of firefighters in France, who are facing a crisis in vocations. Across the country, fire stations are mobilizing to attract the 50,000 missing volunteer firefighters.
Marie Boyard joined the ranks of volunteer firefighters in Meschers-sur-Gironde (Charente Maritime). This 47-year-old dental assistant works only in her spare time, weekends and nights. A big investment, for eight euros per hour. In France, the volunteers are fewer and fewer. Recruitment campaigns are organized in several barracks, and a convention has even been offered to companies.
To attract new firefighters, awareness days are also organized for the general public, such as at Lys-Haut-Layon (Maine et Loire). Added to the difficulty of the profession is a crisis in vocations. In Tarascon (Bouches-du-Rhone)for the first time, firefighters are going directly into contact with the population to recruit young people from the age of 17. According to the National Federation of Firefighters of France, there is a shortage of 50,000 volunteer firefighters. A lack that was particularly felt during the summer of 2022, in the face of numerous fires.