Local Authorities & Elected Representatives

Mayors and local authorities: your options for tackling fire risk

Monitoring the OLD, the local conservation plan, alerting residents, DECI, town planning in high-risk areas: the mayor is on the front line, both legally and operationally. The tools to take action — including our vigilance widget, which you can embed on your local authority’s website.

Safety widget for my local area Enforcing the OLD

Content verified — July 2026 Forest Fires Association

Key information for you

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

You are responsible for monitoring the OLD Official reports, formal notices, compulsory enforcement at the owner’s expense, administrative fines of up to €50 per square metre: the mayor finally has deterrent measures at his disposal — and may be held liable if he fails to act.
The PCS is not just a formality An up-to-date local emergency plan, regular drills and a register of vulnerable people: these are the factors that make all the difference in times of crisis.
Alert people quickly, via all channels Request for FR-Alert via the prefecture, sirens, automated call systems, display boards, social media — and the annual preventive information notice (DICRIM).
Today’s urban planning is sowing the seeds of tomorrow’s disasters PPRIF, refusal in an exposed, non-defensible area, DECI designed to specification, access routes meeting vehicle standards: every planning permission counts.

Your actions

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

Implement OLD controls The standard procedure — report, formal notice, penalty payment, compulsory enforcement — and the new 2023 limits. View the details Organising the local emergency alert system FR-Alert, sirens, the register of vulnerable people: who triggers what, and how to prepare residents. View the details Promoting prevention amongst local residents 33 verified and reusable guides with direct links — local council newsletters, website, public meetings. View the details Raising awareness among schoolchildren Our teaching resources for schools in the local area. View the details Assessing local risk objectively A mapped history of fires in your local area — useful for DICRIM, PCS and local councils. Explore Setting up a partnership Local alert centres, data, response operations: the charity is already working with local authorities. Contact us

Include your local authority’s safety advice on your website

Free, with no registration or cookies required: a widget that displays the forest fire risk level for your local area every day. Search for your local area, choose a format, copy the code — it updates automatically.

Your local council INSEE code

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Clair Gloomy Include tomorrow (D+1)

Code to copy onto your website

Paste this code into a page on your website. The widget updates automatically every day.

Useful resources & contacts

The organisations and reference documents relevant to your profile.

feux-foret.gouv.frOfficial Official materials for the national campaign, which can be reused.
Your SDIS DECI opinions, project viability, joint PCS exercises.
GeoriskOfficial PPRIF, risks and disclosure requirements (DICRIM, IAL).
Prefecture — SIDPC Activation of FR-Alert, widespread closures and use of flares.
AMFAssociation The mayor’s guides to dealing with risks — including forest fires.
Our data Reports and records for your assessments and PCS.

Frequently Asked Questions

A resident refuses to clear undergrowth: can the local council pay for it and be reimbursed?

Yes — that is precisely how compulsory enforcement works: once a formal notice has been served to no avail, the local authority arranges for the work to be carried out and recovers the (increased) cost from the owner. Since 2023, an administrative fine (up to €50 per square metre) and a daily penalty have also been introduced. Detailed procedure: penalties and checks.

Can the mayor be held liable following a fire?

Yes, in several areas: inadequate monitoring of the OLD, a non-existent or unenforced PCS, failure to issue warnings, and reckless town planning in high-risk areas. Conversely, a local authority that documents its monitoring activities, drills and preventive information is very well protected from a legal perspective.

How do I activate FR-Alert for my local authority?

FR-Alert is triggered by the prefect (or at the mayor’s request via the SIDPC) in the event of a serious and imminent danger. In advance: agree the procedure with the prefecture, and keep your civil protection centre and your own resources (sirens, automatic call systems) up to date for smaller-scale incidents. See alerting the public.

Is the Vigilance widget really free?

Yes — it’s a service provided by the association: a lightweight iframe, with no cookies or adverts, which displays today’s water level (and the level for the following day, if you choose) for your local area. You just need to copy the code once, and it updates automatically.

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The risk changes every day. Stay informed.

Daily updates, real-time fire alerts, public reporting: the free tools from Feux de Forêt, available online and on mobile.

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