French firefighters declare 'intensive mobilization' after talks with Interior Minister yield no concrete commitments

Disappointing meeting at Place Beauvau

Nine representative unions of French departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis), gathered as an intersyndicale, were received by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez for nearly two hours on August 13 at the Interior Ministry. The unions came with three core demands: more resources for operations they say are exploding, massive recruitment of professional firefighters, and rapid adoption of a civil security modernization bill. They left saying they received nothing concrete.

The minister is not at the rendezvous, we have not had a concrete response. We have no commitment on financing, on the financing strategy, or on the content of the bill.

Xavier Boy, spokesperson for the intersyndicale, said interventions have been increasing for years while resources have not kept pace. He stressed that civil security currently holds together thanks to the dedication of its agents, but can no longer rely on that dedication alone.

Minister's response

Laurent Nuñez announced on X that the civil security modernization bill will be presented to firefighter unions on September 8, calling it an opportunity to show what was retained from the "Beauvau de la Sécurité civile," a 12-month consultation launched in mid-2024. He noted that no modernization law has been passed since 2004. The bill should clarify the missions of the Sdis and other actors for a more balanced distribution of responsibilities, and include legal protection for firefighters.

On the question of increased resources, Nuñez said he could not commit to specific figures.

Obviously I cannot, that is the principle of free administration of local authorities.

He said discussions on Sdis financing will conclude concretely with the 2027 finance bill, including an increase in their resources. The finance bill is to be debated in the autumn.

A summer of megafires

The meeting came amid a summer marked by megafires across France, with nearly 100,000 hectares burned and four firefighters dead, according to Yaël Lecras, vice-president of SNSPP-PATS. In Gironde alone, 42,000 hectares went up in smoke and 180 houses were destroyed in the commune of Le Porge. About 50 departments were placed on orange alert for elevated fire risk. France has approximately 44,000 professional firefighters and 210,000 volunteer firefighters.

Everyone says the model is robust, but when you have nearly 100,000 hectares that have burned, and four colleagues who died, you cannot be satisfied with that. So yes, we are angry.

Aurélien Audoux, vice-president of FA SPP-PATS 86, described the frustration of passing by houses without enough trucks or personnel to intervene.

We were forced to flee because we really lacked trucks, lacked firefighters to be able to extinguish the fires. Letting houses burn, that was very hard.

Sébastien Dephot, president of FA SPP-PATS 33, said firefighters lack adequate respiratory protection, having been given FFP2 masks that do not filter carbon monoxide.

Planned mobilization

The unions announced an "intensive mobilization" for late September. A static demonstration called the "columns of revolt" is planned for September 26, 27, and 28 at Place de la République in Paris, according to David Saquet of Unsa Sapeurs-pompiers. A public service action day follows on September 29, called by seven representative unions of the sector. Xavier Boy said the mobilization will proceed unless the bill contains surprises.