During the fire
People vulnerable to fire: planning ahead and providing support
Older or isolated people, those with disabilities, young children, and people with chronic illnesses: they are the first to be affected by crises — either because warnings do not reach them, or because evacuating them takes ten times as long. The key lies in preparedness and community support.
Key points
- Register your vulnerable loved ones with the municipal register of vulnerable people (town hall) : the emergency services use it to target their door-to-door visits.
- FR-Alert isn’t enough for everyone: arrange for a trusted person (a neighbour or family member) to check on you AND offer help.
- Suitable 72-hour kit: prescriptions, a 7-day supply of medication, equipment (glasses, hearing aids + batteries, wheelchair battery, etc.).
- In accommodation facilities (care homes, campsites, etc.) : an evacuation plan is in place — find out about it BEFORE the season begins.
- 114 (text/video call) is the emergency helpline for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Why foresight is vital
In all major fires, the pattern is the same: victims are disproportionately likely to be elderly, isolated or have reduced mobility. The reasons are clear : a mobile phone that is switched off or not compatible with the alert system, a siren that goes unheard, an inability to close the shutters unaided, or an evacuation that takes 45 minutes when the fire leaves only 10. There is a solution to each of these obstacles — one that needs to be put in place before in the summer.
The local register: a little-known resource
Each local authority keeps a register of vulnerable people by name (set up for heatwaves, used for all emergencies). Registering an elderly, disabled or isolated relative on this scheme — a free service available on request to the local council, either by the person themselves or a third party — ensures that the emergency services and the local council think of him In the event of an emergency: a phone call, door-to-door visits, assistance with evacuation. If your parents are getting on in years and live near a mountain range, this 5-minute phone call could be the most useful one of the year.
Adapt your instincts to each situation
- Double alert : FR-Alert on your mobile + a designated neighbour who will come round in person. Agree on a simple signal (“if I don’t answer the second call, come round”).
- Shutters and lockdown : if the person is unable to lock up their home on their own, the designated contact person should do so first — before going into self-isolation themselves, if they have time, using common sense.
- Early evacuation : as soon as a major fire threatens the area, we don’t wait for orders to evacuate anyone who is slow to move — we set off early, whilst the roads are clear.
- Documents ready : health card, prescriptions, family contact details in a folder near the entrance.
- Engine : wheelchair always loaded in the summer + transport plan (who, how, where — a wheelchair can’t go everywhere). Adapted vehicle parked at the starting point on days when there is a risk.
- Sensory : the 114 (SMS/video call) replaces 112; FR-Alert vibrates and appears on screen — check your phone’s compatibility. For blind people, a support worker describes the situation and provides guidance.
- Cognitive / psychological : prepare a rehearsed scenario (“ when X comes to collect you, take the red bag and follow them ”) ; in a crisis, give just one instruction at a time, phrased positively.
- Please note any specific requirements in the local register AND on the fridge door (emergency information sheet) for the emergency services.
- At school or at the leisure centre : Staff are implementing the emergency evacuation plan (PPMS). Do NOT go to collect your children during the incident unless instructed to do so — crowds of parents cause a real danger.
- At home : explain this beforehand (112, the FR-Alert notification, “listen to the adults, don’t hide”). During lockdown, keep them away from windows; during an evacuation, one child = one designated adult carer.
- Babies : a special kit (milk, water, nappies for 72 hours), a baby sling — the pushchair quickly becomes unusable.
- Respiratory (asthma, COPD, respiratory failure) : smoke can be detected kilometres away from the fire. Implement strict containment measures at an early stage; ensure emergency treatment is to hand; oxygen: check that cylinders are secure and that their autonomy has been verified — register your details with the relevant authority and your service provider.
- Life-saving treatments (dialysis, insulin, anticoagulants, etc.) : a 7-day supply of medication in the kit, photos of prescriptions, and the habit of taking a cool bag along for chilled items.
- Electrical dependency (ventilator, hospital bed): backup battery, priority registration on the register, alternative accommodation with electricity — power cuts are a common feature of major fires.
- Domestic staff : accessible transport crate (not at the back of the garage), lead kept near the kit. During an evacuation, if an animal is running loose and heads back towards the house : tie it up or put it in the crate.
- Horses and livestock : Evacuate VERY early (using a livestock lorry or mutual aid network) or gather the animals on a cleared plot with a water supply. Never confine them to pens or buildings — an animal left free in a cleared enclosure will generally survive the fire.
- Please ensure your pets are identified (with a microchip or tag) and notify the town hall if you need to evacuate without them.
Helping without putting yourself at risk
- The best thing to do is early : ring, call, help lock up, give someone a lift — as long as the road is safe.
- When there’s a fire, you don’t improvise a rescue from the flames: you give precise instructions to the 112 (“Mrs X, aged 84, living alone, 12 Chemin des Pins, with reduced mobility”) — that’s the action that saves lives.
- In the aftermath of the crisis, visits are just as important: shock, smoke inhalation, interrupted treatment — see psychological support.
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.