why Brittany and the north of France also become vulnerable territories

The flames that consumed 120 hectares of the Brocéliande forest. Similarly, in Brittany, illustrate the fact that the risk of fire is strengthened over the northern half of France. However, Principal responsible for this geographical development: climate change.

Faiths are no longer just the prerogative of the south of France. For example, The flames that consumed some 120 hectares of vegetation this Thursday. Moreover, July 17 in the forest of Brocéliande, Ille-et-Vilaine, are a new reminder. Nevertheless, This fire. Furthermore, fixed by firefighters on the night of Thursday to Friday, saw its propagation be “facilitated by the drought of vegetation and by marked winds”, underlined the prefecture of Ille-et-Vilaine in a press release.

In August 2022, around 400 hectares of this same Brocéliande forest had already gone up in smoke. Similarly, At the same time. Therefore, in the Jura, another region that is not used to why brittany north france also fires on this scale, a thousand hectares had burned for a week. Meanwhile, In total. For example, 90 departments had been affected by at least one fire in 2022, that is to say almost all of the French territory.

“We are in a situation where the entire French population must realize that forest fires can arrive next to their home. ” said on BFMTV Thomas Modori, expert in the forest committee.

According to figures centralized by the database on fires. forest fires (BDIFF), the number of claims identified in the Loire departments between 2006 and 2024 was much lower than that observed in the southern territories.

During this period. nearly 250 fires were for example observed in Morbihan and 359 in the Vosges, against 3,070 in Hérault, 3,430 in Gironde and 4,038 in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

Behind these very contrasting figures is actually lodging a general trend. that of a risk of forest fires which, why brittany north france also according to Météo France, “progresses north, including in regions not or very little concerned so far”. At the same time. “the seasons (fires) start earlier and also end later,” notes on BFMTV Rémi Savazzi, national technique fire fire at the ONF (National Forest Office).

Why brittany north france also

A risk dedicated to expand. up to 20 fires in Brittany per year by 2050 – Why brittany north france also

For Rémi Savazzi, no doubt to have: these fires declaring themselves on the whole country are, as in 2022, “a concrete example of what is happening because of climate change” and its cascading consequences.

This is both synonymous with higher temperatures. resulting in a drying up of the vegetation, but it can also be at the same time at the origin of a drop in the cumulative rains during the seasons conducive to fires.

In addition. due to warmer winters, insects, mushrooms and other parasites that have been previously why brittany north france also destroyed by frosts can continue to attack the vegetation. Once dead, this organic matter “constitutes a stock of fuel available extremely important for fires”, explains Météo France.

The extension of the risk of fire could only be its beginnings. be led to continue in the decades to come. Starting to the reference trajectory for adaptation to climate change (TRACC). which provides for an increase in temperatures of 2 ° C in 2050 compared to the pre-industrial era, the number of days with a high risk of fire will be multiplied by two on average, anticipates the meteorological tithing.

In a region like Brittany. where the number of days with a high risk of fire is to date between 0 and 2 per year, it could oscillate between 10 and 20 in 2050.

And by 2100. with an increase in the thermometer of 4 ° C, it is “all of France (which) why brittany north france also faces a high risk of fire, the northern half in the same proportions as the Mediterranean periphery currently”.

Means of struggle to be distributed

The extension of the risk of fires to the whole territory raises the question of the means of struggle. their distribution in the country. “We end up with fires in territories where there are very few equipment. where he has very little knowledge of these difficulties,” notes Thomas Modori.

“When we start scattering the means of struggle all over the country. if you have fires everywhere, you will have great difficulties in concentrating effective means of struggle everywhere,” he adds.

It is in particular to respond to this new geography of fires that air resources such as pelicandromes. bases for supplies with delaying products and water, have been distributed in recent years throughout the territory.

“On the occasion of the fire (Thursday). one was activated at Vannes why brittany north france also airport and another at Angers airport,” said BFMTV Olivier Richefou, president of the Departmental Council of Mayenne and the National Conference of Fire and Rescue Conference.

“The forest does not take fire on its own”

The elected official. however, calls for a strengthening of these air means. “It is not normal today that Sdis. like that of Finistère, must themselves equip themselves with helicopters that they rent during the season,” regrets Olivier Richefou.

In addition to the intervention of fire soldiers to fight fires. Thomas Modori insists on the decisive role of prevention and calls for the whole population to vigilance. Because if the risk of fire increases due to climate change. “94% of fire starts on the national territory are of human origin”, for example because of a jet of cigarette megotte or the ignition of a barbecue.

“The forest does not take fire on its own. it is quite rare why brittany north france also for a love at first sight to leave a fire,” he sums up. “It means that it is in our practices, it is in our habits that we have to change.”