Nearly 40,000 hectares burned in France this year, interior minister announces 111 arrests

France is grappling with an exceptional wildfire season, with nearly 40,000 hectares already consumed by flames this year. This figure significantly surpasses last year's total and is higher than the same period in 2022, a year that saw over 66,000 hectares burn.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez highlighted that "nine out of ten fires are of human origin." He announced that 111 individuals have been arrested this year in connection with fire outbreaks, noting that "most of the time, these are people who admit the facts."

Two major fires continue to demand the attention of emergency services: one near Saint-Nazaire affecting about twenty hectares and twenty homes, and another in Taradeau, Var, which has destroyed five houses and impacted fifty others. Nuñez described the situation as "exceptional" due to severe drought conditions that make the environment highly flammable.

Despite the challenges, Nuñez expressed confidence in France's firefighting capabilities. He stated the country has "sufficient means," bolstered by a capacity package approved in 2022. The minister emphasized that 95% of fires are managed with ground resources and that 90% do not exceed one or two hectares. France also maintains a fleet of approximately 70 aerial units, including twelve Canadairs, Dash aircraft, and water-bombing helicopters. He added that the availability rate of their Canadairs stands at 85%, exceeding the European average.

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La France a suffisamment de moyens pour combattre les incendies