The 22 aircraft operated by the Civil Protection Service were “sufficient in recent years. [...] Do we need more? The answer is yes”, says Emmanuel Macron, emphasising that this expanded fleet would be European and calling for “to reorient an industrial strategy” to build these devices.
The President visited the site of the massive forest fires in La Teste-de-Buch (Gironde) this afternoon.
Two additional water-bombing helicopters have been deployed
Two additional water-bombing helicopters will be deployed on Thursday and Friday to support the fire brigades battling the fires in Gironde.
At the Council of Ministers meeting, the Minister for the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, presented a decree granting the right to requisition helicopter hire companies capable of assisting in the fight against forest fires.
This mechanism therefore allows for the requisition ‘without delay’ funding from the Ministry.