Gérald Darmanin wanted to give an “extremely important civic message”.
The Minister of the Interior on Wednesday invited communities and businesses to release the volunteer firefighters they employ from their duties, to strengthen the system for fighting exceptional summer fires.
I appeal to companies and public employers to allow their employees who are volunteer firefighters to return to their barracks as soon as possible.
Our country needs them in the face of exceptionally serious fires.
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– Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 10, 2022
"I am launching a solemn appeal to employers to release their employees who are volunteer firefighters, so that they can join their fellow firefighters, everywhere on the national territory", he declared during the meeting. a trip to Aveyron.
France asks for help from European countries
The exceptional fires that have broken out in France since the beginning of the summer have put a strain on the firefighters, professionals and volunteers, who have been mobilized sometimes until exhaustion.
While aerial firefighting means are insufficient, France has requested help from European countries.
“The Swedes are lending us planes from (Thursday), the Italians no doubt in the next few hours (…) This European mechanism allows us in any case in the next few hours to be able to concentrate other air resources”, a-t-t -he announced, during a press briefing in the village of Mostuéjouls, evacuated overnight from Monday to Tuesday due to the proximity of a fire which ravaged 700 ha in Lozère and Aveyron, and mobilized 600 firefighters.
VIDEO.
Fires in France: "A significant part are criminal"
Firefighters are mobilized on many fronts, particularly in Gironde, but also in smaller fires in Maine-et-Loire, Aveyron, Drôme, Isère or Pyrénées-Orientales, each time with reinforcements from other departments.
