French fire and rescue service personnel were called to strike on 13 August by a national intersyndicale demanding more resources and recruitment. The intersyndicale's strike call covers all personnel of the French fire and rescue services (SIS), from professional firefighters to administrative, technical and specialized staff.
The intersyndicale's communiqué calling the strike was published on Friday 7 August. Nine union organizations denounce 'major difficulties calling for immediate responses from the State' and demand 'sustainable, fair and ambitious funding' for the fire and rescue services, in line with their growing missions and the country's civil-security challenges.
The unions also demand 'the statutory recruitment of professional firefighters' and that 'the health and safety of staff' become 'a national priority'. They call on all personnel to mobilize 'by all legal means available to them', including joining the strike, wearing a distinctive sign, local initiatives or relaying the call.
Forest fires in July burned more than 120,000 hectares in France, highlighting the strain on firefighters who demand more resources 'to guarantee interventions under good conditions'. Manuel Coullet, secretary general of SUD Sdis National, said professional firefighters who go in reinforcement columns to forest fires do so on their vacation time because fire stations do not have enough staff to handle routine calls.
Civil security is the poor relation of the ministry.
— Manuel Coullet, secretary general of SUD Sdis National
Coullet said it is no longer acceptable for a firefighter to attack a fire with equipment that does not match the situation, citing cotton hoods that do not protect against toxic substances in smoke. He noted that cartridge masks exist that are lighter than self-contained breathing apparatus and are used by European firefighters, and that Sdis should simply be allowed to buy them.
We want concrete action, and now!
— CFDT-SDIS
On Thursday, French professional firefighters and administrative, technical and specialized staff (PATS) filed a national strike notice. Coullet said the strike notice 'is not a call to take to the streets', but will allow colleagues to gather in barracks and show their support. A national press conference is to be organized by the intersyndicale on Thursday.
France Télévisions reported, citing entourage of French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and confirming RMC, that Nuñez would meet firefighters' union representatives at noon on Thursday. The meeting is highly anticipated. Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate attached to the French Interior Ministry, assured on RMC that a 'permanent dialogue' is maintained with the unions and that 'many resources' had already been put in place.
Coullet acknowledged that the civil security budget has doubled under Emmanuel Macron's two terms, but said it only allowed services to catch up after twenty years of underinvestment. He added that the 'last public service sent everywhere' is deteriorating for lack of sufficient means.
Professional firefighters are demanding a say on the bill to modernize civil security arising from the 'Beauvau de la Sécurité civile'. The 'Beauvau de la Sécurité civile' consultation was launched in 2024 by Gérald Darmanin, then French Interior Minister, and its summary report was published in September 2025. Coullet asked: 'Almost a year later, we still don't know what is in this draft law. Does it really exist?'
Coullet called the united front of the nine French departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis) unions 'historic'. At the end of September, if the situation does not improve, professional firefighters plan to join the strike movement planned by civil service workers. The parliamentary calendar is tight ahead of the 2027 French presidential election.
Updates
Following the initial strike call, new reports reveal that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died, with unions describing the situation as catastrophic and expressing deep disappointment after talks with the Interior Minister, who announced the civil security modernization bill will be presented on September 8 and funding reforms tied to the 2027 finance bill — yet unions demand concrete commitments, a dedicated firefighter directorate, and recruitment policies, while warning of an unprecedented 'intensive mobilization' beginning September 26.
Since the initial report, firefighter unions have confirmed that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died, with new details emerging that the fire station in Auch, originally due in 2027, has not yet begun construction; unions also announced an intensive mobilization—including a static protest called 'colonnes de la révolte' at Paris’s Place de la République on September 26–28—and expressed deep disappointment after failing to secure concrete commitments from the Interior Minister, who instead pledged that the civil security modernization bill would be presented on September 8 and funding reforms would emerge in the 2027 finance bill.
Since the initial report, firefighter unions have revealed that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died in the 2026 wildfire season, with unions demanding immediate recruitment of 15,000 professional firefighters over three years and criticizing inadequate respiratory protection that fails to filter carbon monoxide; the Interior Minister confirmed the civil security modernization bill will be presented to unions on September 8, while unions announced an intensive mobilization—including 'colonnes de la révolte' demonstrations in Paris from September 26 to 28—unless concrete funding and staffing commitments are made.
Following the August 13 symbolic strike, new data reveals that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died in this year’s wildfires, with unions reporting that inadequate equipment — including FFP2 masks failing to filter carbon monoxide — and insufficient personnel forced crews to abandon homes in Gironde, where 42,000 hectares and 180 houses were destroyed; the government confirmed a 93% budget increase since 2017, with next year’s funding set at €879 million, while unions demand 15,000 new professional hires over three years and a civil security modernization bill to be presented on September 8.
Following the August 13 symbolic strike, new details emerged: nearly 100,000 hectares have burned across France with four firefighters killed, while unions reported critical shortages in vehicles and personnel, forcing some to abandon homes to fire; respiratory protection like FFP2 masks was confirmed to fail against carbon monoxide, and the promised civil security modernization bill is set for presentation on September 8, though unions remain deeply disappointed, demanding 15,000 new professional firefighter positions over three years and a revised funding model, as the government cites a 93% budget increase since 2017 and a 2027 finance bill commitment.
Since the initial report, firefighter unions have revealed that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died, with unions describing the situation as catastrophic and demanding immediate recruitment of 15,000 professional firefighters over three years—5,000 annually—while also exposing critical gaps in respiratory protection, as current FFP2 masks fail to filter carbon monoxide; the government responded by announcing the civil security modernization bill will be presented on September 8, alongside a pledge that 2027 budget increases will address funding, though unions called the proposals insufficient and vowed an unprecedented 'columns of revolt' mobilization in Paris
Following the August 13 symbolic strike, new figures reveal that nearly 100,000 hectares have burned and four firefighters have died this season, with unions condemning insufficient equipment—such as FFP2 masks failing to filter carbon monoxide—and a lack of vehicles and personnel, as seen in Gironde where 42,000 hectares and 180 homes were destroyed; the Interior Ministry now confirms the civil security modernization bill will be presented to unions on September 8, while unions demand 15,000 new professional firefighter positions over three years and a revised funding model, after expressing deep disappointment over the lack of concrete commitments.
