Camping & Outdoor Accommodation Area

Managing a campsite in a high-risk area: requirements and best practice

During the summer, outdoor accommodation facilities host thousands of people in close proximity to vegetation — in structures that offer no protection against fire. Specifications, evacuation plans, guest information: your obligations and the right tools.

Today’s Alert Customer guidelines

Content verified — July 2026 Forest Fires Association

Key information for you

The 4 key messages to bear in mind for your profile.

The specifications form the legal basis for your project In high-risk areas, the CPS (safety specifications manual) issued by the prefect or the mayor sets out procedures for alerts, evacuation and prevention. It must be up to date, known to staff and tested.
A tarpaulin doesn’t protect against anything Tents, mobile homes and bungalows are completely destroyed by fire: your safety depends on evacuating early or seeking shelter in your permanent buildings — never remain in the accommodation itself.
The OLD applies to the entire site Camping sites: brush-clearing is compulsory across the entire site in exposed areas — not just within 50 metres of reception.
Your customers know nothing about local risk Display of safety instructions (compulsory), a briefing on arrival during the ‘red’ period, and staff trained to deliver the multilingual evacuation message: information is an integral part of the service.

Your actions

In practical terms, here’s what you can do right now.

Bringing the site up to OLD standards Lack of vegetation, pruning, full right-of-way: the method — and the stricter penalties introduced in 2023. View the details Refining the evacuation plan Meeting points, routes, people with reduced mobility, animals: the mechanics of a well-organised evacuation. View the details Organising the internal alert system FR-Alert, the campsite siren, patrols: how the signal reaches every pitch, even at night. View the details Controlling barbecues and flames Secure communal areas, restrictions for safety reasons, portable stoves: what the law says, what to display. View the details Staying alert as part of your daily routine Every evening during the season: the next day’s conditions will determine whether there are barbecues, entertainment and briefings. View Be vigilant at reception Our widget integrates with your website and home screens — using the same generator as for local authorities. Generate

Useful resources & contacts

The organisations and reference documents relevant to your profile.

Your CPS Required by official order (from the prefecture or town hall) — this is THE up-to-date document you must request from your predecessor when taking over the business.
Town Hall & Fire and Rescue Service Approval of the evacuation plan; an annual drill with the local emergency services is recommended.
FNHPAFederation National Federation of Outdoor Accommodation — regulatory support.
The page to display for your customers Holidaymakers’ guidelines ready to be shared (QR code available at reception).
Camping emergency kit Megaphone, up-to-date customer lists, torches, first-aid kit: the professional version of the 72-hour kit.
Fires currently burning The real-time situation around your plot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the Safety Specifications Document (SSD)?

For campsites situated in high-risk areas (forest fires, flooding, etc.), the relevant authority (mayor or prefect) issues a set of guidelines setting out information, warning and evacuation procedures. The operator is required to: display the instructions, appoint a person in charge and carry out drills. Failure to implement the emergency response plan will result in you being held strictly liable in the event of an incident.

Can I allow barbecues on the pitches?

Most local regulations in high-risk areas prohibit camping on individual pitches, favouring secure communal areas instead (with a hard surface and water nearby) — which are closed on days of heightened alert and during prefectural bans. This is the arrangement recommended by the SDIS and insurers.

How do you evacuate 800 people who are asleep?

That is the whole point of the plan: a distinctive audible signal familiar to guests (briefing/welcome booklet), night-shift staff trained to go door-to-door by sector, well-lit assembly points, an up-to-date attendance list (police records serve this purpose too), and vehicles left on site if the evacuation is on foot to a permanent building. Test it out of season, make adjustments, and test it again.

Clearing the right-of-way is expensive: is there any financial assistance available?

This is an operating cost (tax-deductible), which can sometimes be shared through a joint scheme with the local council or neighbouring properties. The actual cost should be weighed against the €50 per square metre fine, the increased insurance excess — and the value of a plot of land that is defensible in the eyes of your clients and insurers. Method and price: do my brush-clearing.

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