Prevention & protection
Forest fires: preparing, responding, recovering
In France, 9 out of 10 fires are caused by humans — and most of them could have been prevented. This comprehensive guide brings together the actions that prevent a fire from starting, the life-saving reflexes to adopt when a fire breaks out, and the steps to help you get back on your feet afterwards. Compiled by the Feux de Forêt association, and continuously reviewed and updated.
One risk, three stages
A forest fire doesn’t just happen in summer, when the flames are raging. It happens before, whether it’s tending a garden or making sure a cigarette butt is properly extinguished ; during, in the moments when a decision is made to shelter in place or evacuate ; and after, in the steps involved and the rebuilding process. Every stage has its own best practices — here they are, organised to get straight to the point.
Before the fire
Everyday activities, barbecues and DIY, home security, a ‘defensive’ garden, and an interactive self-assessment of your home.
6 guides Stage 2 — RespondingDuring the fire
Whether to stay indoors or evacuate, how to react when driving, hiking or camping, and how to protect vulnerable people: the reflexes that save lives.
After the fire
Returning home, insurance, financial assistance, psychological support and reforestation: rebuilding without getting bogged down in the red tape.
7 guides Legal obligationBrush clearing (OLD)
The regulation that provides the most effective protection for your home. Understand it, check whether it applies to you, carry out the necessary work, and avoid penalties.
5 guides + map toolWhy prevention makes all the difference
Forest fires are no longer confined to the Mediterranean region: the Gironde and the Landes in 2022, Brittany, Anjou, and even the outskirts of towns. Climate change is lengthening the high-risk season and extending the areas at risk further north. Our page key figures provides a comprehensive overview, and understanding risk explains where, when and why a fire starts.
What the law says
Clearing undergrowth around your home, not burning garden waste, and respecting restrictions on access to woodland: three rules people often only find out about… when they’re fined. It’s better to know them beforehand.
Compulsory brush-clearing
A fine of up to €50 per square metre following a formal notice. A clear guide to the OLD, with our municipality-by-municipality check tool.
Check RegulationsFire, barbecue, burning
Burning garden waste is prohibited (€450 fine), controlled burning is permitted, barbecues and construction work in dry weather: what the law says.
Access to the mountain ranges in summer
Mountain areas closed by prefectural order on high-risk days: how to check before setting off on a hike, and what the risks are.
ReadInteractive tools
Share fact sheets
Prevention, step by step: one action = one fact sheet, including duration, cost and steps.
Take action QuizIs my house ready?
18 questions, a score and personalised recommendations for your home.
Am I subject to the OLD?
Enter your address: official results from the IGN database (data.gouv.fr), affected areas and a 50-metre radius on the map.
Check Checklist72-hour emergency kit
The complete checklist to tick off and print out so you can leave within 5 minutes if an evacuation is ordered.
Prepare True / False10 common misconceptions about fires
“The water in the swimming pool will save my house”, “the Canadair aircraft will come”… Test your knowledge – answers with sources.
Understanding and communicating
Understanding fire risk
Where is France on fire, when, why — and how to interpret the Forest Weather Report and the alert maps.
ReadFR-Alert, sirens: the alert
How you will be alerted in the event of danger — and why you should never ignore an FR-Alert notification.
ReadKey figures
Areas burnt, fire outbreaks, causes, costs — reference data, including the 2025 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Short, well-sourced answers to the questions everyone is asking about forest fires.
ReadWho writes these pages?
The association Forest Fires has been providing the public with information on wildfires since 2013: real-time maps, reports from members of the public, and educational resources. These guides are based on official texts (the Forestry Code, prefectural decrees) and recommendations from Civil Protection, Météo-France and the ONF — each page lists its sources. They are not a substitute for the authorities’ instructions: In an emergency, always follow the instructions given by the emergency services.
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
Check the fire alert status for your department, keep track of current fires and report a fire via the Feux de Forêt mobile app.