'We’re short of everything' say striking French firefighters

Since 8 September, when nine trade unions representing some 44,000 professional firefighters began their strike notice, they have stepped up their protests, displaying banners, magnets and slogans on their vehicles to express their "anger." 

On Sunday, firefighters from across France gathered and set up camp at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. 

"In practical terms, we're short of everything. We're short of firefighters, we're short of fire engines," Sergeant Nicolas Lomet, a firefighter in the Rhône region and a representative of the Sud trade union, told RFI. 

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Lomet is wearing a 'On strike' badge in place of his rank insignia and laments the government's inaction in the face of staff shortages, a major problem for years, which will be "even worse" in 2026.

Climate change, fires on the rise

"On top of that, there are lots of new initiatives being rolled out, so we're being asked to completely overhaul the fire service - and that's only to be expected, given how outdated it is. Now they want to pile more responsibilities on us that will end up costing a fortune in the long run. No, the funding just isn't up to scratch any more," warns Lomet.

The situation is exacerbated by climate change, resulting in a dry, scorching summer. The number of fires has increased, but funding has not. 

Beyond the financial issues, it is also the way the profession operates that poses a problem. Volunteer firefighters, for whom this is not their main job, make up 80 per cent of the workforce and are overworked.

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"They go out three or four times a night, then go straight back to work the next day. When do these people get any rest?," asks the sergeant.

"Perhaps we need more of them, and in areas where there are too many call-outs, perhaps we should switch to professional firefighters," he suggests. 

These professional firefighters could be drawn from the pool of volunteers, adds Lomet.  

According to the Sécurité civile board, since 8 September, an average of 2,682 professional firefighters have been on strike each day - representing 9.3 per cent of the total workforce.

A march through Paris is planned for Monday, with firefighters set to gather outside the Ministry of Economy and Finance, before joining a public-sector demonstration on Tuesday, just days before the government is due to present its draft budget. 

This article was adapted from the original version in French by RFI.