Forest fire-fighting resources: France’s rapid-response force

A coordinated chain, from aerial surveillance to the tanker lorry

Putting out a forest fire is never the job of a single piece of equipment, however spectacular it may be. The strength of the French system lies in its full range : the Forest weather anticipates danger; the aerial surveillance team detects smoke, the water bombers strike the flickering flames, the helicopters support and assist, the floor columns hold the front line and defend the houses — and when France is overwhelmed, the European solidarity takes over.

Four attack families…

… and the eyes that guide them

No aerial firefighting without early detection: the sooner a fire is reported, the more likely it is that a large-scale operation will put it out. Two tools bridge the gap between the sky and you.

Explore the fleet at a glance

Click on an asset to view its summary sheet — capabilities, missions, key facts — then open the detailed page. Filter by category to view only aircraft, helicopters, ground assets, European reinforcements or surveillance assets.

Espace interactif présentant les avions, hélicoptères, moyens au sol, renforts européens et outils de surveillance mobilisés contre les feux de forêt en France.

The French doctrine: nip the fire in the bud

The national strategy can be summed up in a single sentence: large-scale attack on emerging fires. A fire tackled within the first ten minutes remains an incident; the same fire, an hour later in strong winds, becomes a disaster. In practical terms:

• High-risk days, aeroplanes and helicopters take off before fire outbreaks: this is the Armed Aerial Watch (GAAr), part of the Dash and fully loaded Air Tractor aircraft that patrol hazardous areas to drop their payload within minutes of detection.
• Confirmed to be taking part, the initiative is gaining momentum: a steady stream of Canadair (four aircraft operating on a continuous rotation), delaying at the edge, GIFF when it comes into contact with flames.
• A King Air coordination co-ordinates the aerial rescue operation from the air, in conjunction with the commander of the ground rescue operations.
• When the fire takes hold, the fighting shifts to land : inter-departmental reinforcement columns, ForMiSC, night-time work on the outskirts — aeroplanes, on the other hand, only fly during the day, with the exception of Super Puma.
• In the event of a major fire, France is implementing the RescEU mechanism — as in the summer of 2022 — or is trialling new capabilities, such as theA400M water bomber to be launched in Gironde in July 2026.

Who writes these pages?

The association Forest Fires has been documenting wildfires since 2013: real-time maps, reports from the public, educational resources. These factsheets are based on data from the Civil Protection Directorate (DGSCGC), the Ministry of the Interior, the regional fire and rescue services (SDIS) and building manufacturers — each page lists its sources and the date of verification. For tips on how to avoid the need for all these resources, head to our Prevention Centre.