Action sheet — During a fire
How to call 112 effectively: the 60 seconds that can make all the difference in a fire
A fire reported as covering 200 m² can be tackled by a fire engine; the same fire, reported 15 minutes later, requires Canadair aircraft. The quality of YOUR call — exact location, useful description, ability to call back — determines how quickly resources are deployed. Here is the script.
Key points
- Dial 112 or 18 at the FIRST sign of smoke – don’t wait until you see flames or for ‘someone else’ to call.
- The 4 key pieces of information: WHERE (exact location), WHAT (size, what is burning), the WIND (direction/strength), and THREATS (houses, campsites, roads).
- Your GPS location: in the event of an emergency call, your location will be sent automatically (AML); otherwise, check the coordinates in the Maps app.
- Stay in contact after the call — the operator or the emergency services may call you back to provide guidance.
Equipment: a mobile phone · the phone’s maps app (coordinates)
Why it’s important
96 per cent of fires are extinguished before they reach 10 hectares — and the key factor is the notice period : a van dispatched 5 minutes after the outbreak tackles a grass fire; 20 minutes later, it becomes an operation lasting several hours. The 112 operator must decide within seconds on the level of response required: the more clearly structured your call is, the more extensive and rapid the response will be. The 114 (SMS) provides the same service to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
How to do it, step by step
Get yourself to safety first
Do not make a call whilst in the danger zone: move away at right angles to the wind towards an open area, THEN dial the number. The full procedure: in the heart of the countryside.
Dial 112 (or 18)
The 112 emergency number works even without a SIM card or credit, on any available network. In areas with no mobile coverage, your phone will connect to another operator’s network for emergency calls.
Please state the location as precisely as possible
“Wildfire, in the municipality of X, at a place called Y, on the D12 towards Z, 300 metres past the bridge. ” Useful landmarks: kilometre markers, power lines, the co-operative wine cellar… If the emergency call is made from a mobile phone, your AML location is automatically transmitted — please confirm it.
Describe it in three sentences
Size (‘a 50-metre front’), what is burning (grass, scrub, pine forest), the smoke (colour, volume), the WIND (direction and perceived strength), and what is at risk (homes, campsite, busy road).
Reply, then make sure you can be contacted
Let the operator ask their questions — they help to establish the context of the call. Only hang up once they’ve given the go-ahead; keep the line free afterwards, and if the situation changes significantly (vehicle veers off the road, house hit), call back.
Fill in the details on the app
Once the call has been made: Report the fire on Feux de Forêt with photo — local residents have been alerted, and our moderators are monitoring the situation. The app is NEVER a substitute for dialling 112.
The mistakes that ruin everything
- ‘Someone must have called already’ — operators would rather have 30 calls than none at all, and every call helps to refine the location.
- Hang up after saying ‘there’s a fire near my house’ without giving any street name or landmarks.
- Film a 3-minute video for social media BEFORE you call.
- Keep calling 112 repeatedly to ‘find out how things are going’ — the line must remain free.
The tip that makes all the difference
Learn how to check your location in 5 seconds: long-press on the map (Maps/Plans) to display your coordinates. Practise this once — on the day itself, stress can halve your ability to perform.
Frequently Asked Questions
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
Check the fire alert status for your department, monitor current fires and report a new fire via the Feux de Forêt mobile app.