“With climate change, the risk of fire is increasing and gradually extending to almost the entire metropolitan area,” recalls the government, emphasizing that “nine out of ten fires are of human origin.”
Government press release of June 12, 2024:
The fire which broke out on June 11, 2024 in Vidauban in Var (83), mobilizing 760 ground personnel, recalls the importance of prevention and the development of a risk culture.
The 7th edition of the annual forest and vegetation fire prevention campaign started gradually since May 8 and expands in June until the end of summer.
In 2022, fires have destroyed more than 70,000 ha of forests and vegetation in France, almost half of which in Gironde and Landes. After this year of exceptional intensity, the year 2023 was characterized by a number of forest and vegetation fires 1.5 times higher than the 2006-2021 average but a burned area slightly lower than average. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the means of combating emerging fires, as well as the challenge of continuously improving prevention and developing a culture of risk. In fact, 9 out of 10 fires are of human origin.
With climate change, the risk of fire is increasing and gradually extending to almost the entire metropolitan area. It is therefore imperative to continue the development of risk culture throughout the territory.
This is why, for the 7th consecutive year, the prevention campaign aims to disseminate and make known throughout the French territory and Corsica the good reflexes to adopt when faced with the risk of fires, both to ensure not to be the cause of it than to protect oneself from it.
It targets 4 main issues:
make people aware of the right reflexes to avoid forest and vegetation fires and protect themselves from them;
develop a culture of risk among the general public;
protect natural spaces and inhabited areas;
prepare for and adapt to climate change.
The renewal of this campaign makes it possible to continue the development of the culture of risk in the face of forest and vegetation fires.
The year 2024 will be marked by the holding of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, leading to a large number of summer tourists throughout the country. It is therefore important to remind everyone of the right behaviors to adopt:
Are you a smoker? Throw your cigarette butts in ashtrays.
Are you cutting vegetation in your garden? Put your green waste in the recycling center.
Do you like fireworks? Let the professionals organize them for everyone’s enjoyment, check with your prefecture as fireworks may be prohibited during risk periods.
Are you organizing a barbecue? Do it at home or in a dedicated space on a terrace and far from brush which can catch fire and never in the great outdoors.
Do you DIY outdoors? Remember to clear your garden before summer. Work away from sensitive spaces to protect them from sparks and have a fire extinguisher available to put out the fire immediately.
Do you store wood or gas outside? Keep them away from the walls of your house and if possible put them in a closed shelter.
In addition to the campaign, Météo-France broadcasts daily forest weather forecasts, a system intended to inform residents and tourists about the danger of fires in France and Corsica. This information is established from forecasts of several meteorological parameters which influence the start and spread of fires: rain, air humidity, temperature, wind force and dryness of the vegetation.
Forest weather is available every day at the end of the afternoon on the meteofrance.com website and the Météo-France mobile application for the next two days, in the form of two maps. The fire danger level is specified by department with a 4-level scale: low (green), moderate (yellow), high (orange) and very high (red).
Forest weather aims to enable everyone to adopt the right reflexes on a daily basis to avoid the outbreak of fires. Prevention messages remind you how to avoid carelessness and dangerous behavior.
During risky periods, prefectures can also take measures to limit activities. Remember to find out about yourself in order to protect yourself and preserve natural spaces!
