Fire hazard
Forest fire prevention: everyone involved, everyone responsible !
The year 2025 was marked by numerous forest and vegetation fires across the country, including the major fire in Ribaute (Aude department), symbols of a risk that is intensifying and now spreading to a large part of the territory. Faced with this intensification and expansion, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, the Government is strengthening and adapting its fire prevention and suppression strategy.
In order to develop a risk awareness culture, the Ministry for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature and the Ministry of the Interior are launching the 9th edition of the forest and vegetation fire awareness and prevention campaign, which will run from June to early September. Its objective: to raise awareness among citizens and tourists about the best practices to adopt to prevent fires and protect themselves effectively.
With 17.6 million hectares of forest in mainland France and Corsica, France is among the most wooded countries in Europe, making it vulnerable to the risk of forest fires, particularly during the summer months.
Droughts and heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent and intense in France due to climate change. The evolving risk of forest fires is very concerning and now affects a growing portion of the country. The fire season is lengthening, and in historically affected areas, fires are intensifying.
This year, 52 departments have forest areas classified as being at risk of fire, compared to 48 by 2025.
A Prevention Campaign to Avoid Wildfires
Faced with the increasing risk of forest and vegetation fires, the Government has strengthened its prevention, firefighting, and reforestation policies. The 3rd National Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes several measures concerning forests, including one to prevent the risk of fires (measure 7 of the plan).
The 2026 campaign is fully aligned with these priorities, with four main objectives:
- Raise awareness among all citizens about the best practices to avoid and protect themselves from forest and vegetation fires;
- Develop a risk culture, combining risk awareness with safe behaviors and education about the consequences of fires;
- Protect natural areas and inhabited zones;
- Prepare for and adapt to climate change.
The right actions to take and share
9 out of 10 fires are caused by humans; preventing them is essential.
- How to anticipate and protect your home?
- How to prevent fires from starting?
- What to do if a fire starts?
- How to protect yourself in your home in case of fire?
The press kit dossier de presse (Format pdf - 3.2 Mb - 19/06/2026) for the Government’s prevention campaign.
Find out more about the forest and vegetation fire campaign
Before you travel, check the forest weather forecast