More than 115,000 hectares have been burnt in France since the start of 2026, a record figure that far exceeds that of 2022, according to statements made by the Minister for the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, at the end of July. In light of this situation, the Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the establishment of a parliamentary committee tasked with proposing new measures to adapt forest fire prevention and control to the challenges posed by climate change.
An unprecedented outcome
The figures released by the government illustrate the scale of this year’s fires. In Gironde, 42,000 hectares have been ravaged by the flames, particularly during the fire that started in Saumos. This alarming situation has prompted the authorities to take action, as the effects of climate change are increasing the frequency and severity of forest fires.
A parliamentary inquiry to find practical solutions
Seven parliamentarians, including four MPs and three senators, have been tasked with drawing up proposals by 21 September. Among them is Sophie Panonacle, an MP for Gironde representing Ensemble pour la République, who had recently highlighted the lack of preventative measures and called for massive investment. “In the face of accelerating climate change, we will need to increase our resources tenfold, fiftyfold, a hundredfold,” she said in early August, calling for a five-year plan worth 50 billion euros.
The work carried out as part of this mission will focus on several areas, including increasing aerial resources, adapting the rules on brush-clearing and increasing the budget for Departmental Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS). The findings will inform the ‘Civil Security’ bill, which is due to be debated in the Senate at the end of the year, as well as the 2027 budget.
A visit to Gironde to discuss reconstruction
The Prime Minister will visit Gironde on Monday to discuss the challenges of reconstruction and adaptation in the areas affected by the fires. This visit forms part of the ‘mission for the reconstruction and adaptation of affected areas’, announced on 5 August. The affected areas, such as the Arcachon Basin, could benefit from specific measures to improve their resilience to future fires.
The MPs appointed for this mission represent a wide range of political and geographical backgrounds. Alongside Sophie Panonacle are Didier Lemaire (Horizons, Haut-Rhin), Jean-Louis Thiériot (Les Républicains, Seine-et-Marne), Sophie Pantel (Socialist, Lozère), as well as Senators Pascal Martin and Olivier Bitz (centrists, Normandy) and Françoise Dumont (LR, Alpes-Maritimes).
As the fire season continues, this initiative aims to anticipate the challenges ahead, at a time when firefighters and emergency services are working tirelessly to protect forests and communities. Their work, often carried out in extreme conditions, remains a cornerstone of firefighting efforts in France.