France deploys military A400M planes to fight historic wildfires amid shortages

France is turning to its military transport aircraft to combat a historic wildfire season, deploying an A400M equipped with a specialized kit. This move comes as the country grapples with over 44,000 hectares burned nationwide this year, surpassing the devastating figures from 2022.

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With heatwaves succeeding one another and the accompanying drought, France is facing a historic wildfire season.

The decision to test the military plane highlights the severity of the current fire season, exacerbated by successive heatwaves and drought. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported over 12,500 fire starts since the beginning of the year. The A400M offers the capability to fly and operate at night, a crucial advantage in firefighting efforts, though its primary role is military transport.

This innovation is partly driven by a perceived lack of sufficient dedicated firefighting aircraft, often referred to as 'canadairs'. The A400M's deployment is a response to the escalating crisis, particularly as new fires threaten populated areas. In the Gironde region, an area hit hard in 2022, over 20,000 residents and tourists have already been evacuated due to a new blaze near Lacanau and the Arcachon basin.

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Over 12,500 fire starts since the beginning of the year, which have burned more than 44,000 hectares.

The use of military assets underscores the unprecedented scale of the wildfires and the challenges France faces in containing them. The effectiveness of the A400M's firefighting kit will be closely watched as the season progresses, with concerns that wind conditions could worsen the situation.

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More than 20,000 inhabitants and tourists have already been evacuated.