After the fire — the legal aspects
Forest fires and ‘natural disasters’: what the law actually says
After every major fire, the same question arises: ‘Will the municipality be designated a natural disaster area?’ The counter-intuitive answer is: as regards the damage caused by the fire itself, such a ranking does not exist — and is not necessary. Explanations, including exceptions.
Key points
- The ‘CatNat’ scheme (1982 Act) covers NON-insurable risks: floods, droughts affecting clay soils, earthquakes, etc.
- Fire — including forest fires — is an INSURABLE risk: it is covered by the fire cover under your home insurance policy, without the need for a ministerial decree.
- Practical implication: do not wait for any classification before making your declaration — the five-working-day deadline begins immediately.
- Actual exceptions: landslides or mudslides AFTER the fire (exposed ground) → in such cases, the CatNat scheme may apply.
- Farmers: crop and financial losses are covered by other schemes (ISN / agricultural disasters).
Understanding the ‘natural disaster’ scheme
Established by the Act of 13 July 1982, the CatNat scheme is a national solidarity for risks that are difficult to insure against : floods, mudslides, ground movements, swelling and shrinkage of clay, earthquakes, inundation… When an interministerial decree recognises a state of natural disaster, the CatNat cover — which must be included in policies — comes into effect, subject to its specific statutory excess.
However, the law covers damages “ uninsurable ” (Article L125-1 of the Insurance Code). As for fire, it is the quintessential insurable risk — this is, in fact, a standard cover under home insurance policies. Damage caused by the flames, heat and smoke from a forest fire is therefore covered by the fire cover under your comprehensive insurance policy, without the need for any decree.
The real exceptions
1. Post-fire damage: erosion, mudslides, rockfalls
A hillside that has been burnt loses its vegetation… and its ability to retain water. When the first heavy rains fall, the following occurs: mudslides, gully erosion, landslides, rockfalls. These risks do fall within the scope of CatNat: the local council can apply for them to be recognised, and your CatNat cover will apply to the resulting damage. If your land overlooks or borders a burnt hillside, report the risk to the local council and keep an eye on rainfall over the next 2–3 years.
2. Farmers: a special case
Uninsurable agricultural losses (standing crops, where applicable, land — soil, fencing, perennial crops) are covered by the scheme forNational Solidarity Allowance (ISN), which is the successor to the agricultural disaster scheme, is administered by the DDT following a declaration of damage. Vineyards affected by smoke (where the smoky taste rendered the harvest unfit for consumption) were eligible for specific compensation following the fires of 2021 and 2025. Contact your local Chamber of Agriculture and the DDT without delay — the application periods are short.
3. The forest itself
Standing timber is not covered by either CatNat or home insurance: only a forestry insurance A specific scheme (rare: only a small proportion of France’s private forests are insured) compensates forest owners. However, financial assistance is available for clearing and reforestation — see reconstruction & reforestation and financial assistance.
What about the special measures announced on the telly?
Following major fires, the government and local authorities often implement measures ad hoc : emergency funds, local tax exemptions, rehousing assistance, and the speeding up of compensation payments through agreements with insurers. These are ad hoc policy decisions, which are separate from the CatNat scheme — they are in addition to your contractual rights, not a replacement for them. The starting point for finding out more is: your local council and the prefecture. Panorama in financial assistance.
The risk changes every day. So do your reflexes.
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