how do firefighters prepare to fight fires?

Firefighters struggling in the middle of the forest and trying to fend off flames threatening a village. These moments of panic experienced during the summer of 2022, the town of Saint-Symphorien, in Gironde, is doing everything to never experience them again. On a plot of one kilometer long and 50 meters wide, the municipality has set up a firewall, intended to limit the spread of fire.

“Firewalls are part of the answer”

Several firewalls of this type were built during the week in Gironde. Their effectiveness is still limited. “Firewalls are part of the answer, but not a silver bullet either”explains Jean-Luc Gleize, president of the Gironde department and SDIS 33. Faced with the drought and the threat of new fires, the capacities of the department’s firefighters will be reinforced, with a Dash plane, four Air Tractors, two Canadair mobilized and an additional Civil Security unit.