French farmers clash with prefecture over help for firefighters

Heartwarming stories of farmers aiding firefighters in south-west France have been making the rounds in the French media since the outbreak of major blazes in Gironde and Landes. 

Farmers have been at the forefront of attempts to tackle the blaze, providing services such as refilling water cisterns or trucks for firefighters so they can spend more time tackling blazes, or otherwise clearing paths for firefighters and bringing supplies directly to the frontline.

Their smaller vehicles can access paths larger trucks cannot, clearing a way for firefighters to reach the front line, or otherwise help refill firetrucks with fresh water on-site without them needing to drive several kilometres to replenish their supplies.

Some have even come from neighbouring departments to lend their help, travelling dozens of kilometres.

Estimates suggest around 100 farmers have aided firefighters on the front lines in Gironde since the blaze started last week.

Such selfless action has been lauded by firefighters and evacuated residents, evoking the scenes during a similar massive wildfire in the area in 2022. 

Tensions have arisen, however, as departmental prefects request that such help be organised rather than spontaneous in a bid to limit accidents. 

Frustration has only increased with concerns that a website made available for volunteers is not being used correctly, following a lack of demand through the official channel. 

Prefecture urges safety and use of official channels… 

“Generosity is great, provided it is organised,” said Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas on Sunday, following a swell of support. 

“Farmers are highly mobilised, generosity is part of their culture… [but] we do not want them taking individual initiatives [or] intervening spontaneously,” she added.

“We need to get water to the firefighters... but in an orderly and safe manner. I do not want farmers getting caught in the flames, injured, or worse.”

The warning was echoed by head firefighter in Gironde Marc Vermeulen at the same press conference.

“We cannot have farmers heading into the operation zone on their own. We need to know their location so we can warn them if the fire changes direction… The goal isn't to keep them away or limit their assistance,” he said.

“We need them, but it must be done in a structured way.”

To this end, the prefecture is asking anyone looking to help to notify authorities using an online form on the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture website. 

The form allows farmers to list the aid they can offer (water cisterns, tractors, the location of wells and boreholes in the area), as well as information on how they will be contacted if their help is requested. 

It also ensures that those who have items officially requisitioned are covered by additional insurance in the event of damage to their vehicles.

No requisitions made

On Tuesday (July 28) however, president of the Gironde Chamber of Agriculture Jean-Samuel Eynard said that no official requisition requests had been made from the government to farmers who had used the site.

It means that of the 500 volunteers who used the website to offer help, not one has been officially asked to provide any assistance. 

“Farmers are helping at their own risk… if their tractors burn, or if problems arise, they really need to be properly insured and authorised to perform work outside their own farms,” he said to FranceInfo, adding that he had no idea what was causing the “bottleneck” that prevented official requests. 

“It is a good thing that some farmers are stepping up anyway. It may not be appropriate for a Chamber of Agriculture president to say this, but the reality is that it is fortunate they dared to do so,” he added.

Farmers determined to help

Farmers say the unnecessary bureaucracy is undermining genuine efforts to put out the fire. 

“We set out from Lot-et-Garonne at 4:30 this morning. We want to help. I’m a hunter, and I want to preserve nature as it is,” said 25-year-old farmer Christopher Bonnefond to AFP. 

Along with several other farmers, Mr Bonnefond helped fill and transport a tanker – usually used for slurry – with water and took it to the frontlines.

“Just one of these tanks holds three or four times the capacity of a fire truck. It saves them a huge amount of time,” he said. 

“Their support is truly essential,” said a firefighter to AFP about the interview. 

If Mr Bonnefond had placed his request through the online form however, he may not have been able to head to the front line so rapidly, delaying the help he brought to emergency services. 

Others are more direct in their criticism. 

“The prefect needs to step out of the office a bit. It can't work that way,” said  president of the Gironde branch of the Jeunes Agriculteurs (Young Farmers) union Théo Hernandez to AFP. 

“We see the smoke, we go. We have equipment capable of hauling 300 cubic metres, and we make round trips between the water source and the firefighters... We aren't here to generate buzz, but to help as quickly as possible.”