Everything is lacking, they say.
France, like so many other European countries, is battling massive wildfires during this hotter-than-average summer season.
In France, where the battle against the flames has been going on for weeks, the firefighters have been hailed as bona fide heroes, with even President Emmanuel Macron chiming in:
France, Spain battle deadly wildfires
Macron praises firefighters and emergency crews
@kripatistic and @samikshaa3 have more pic.twitter.com/dpXHZHmOoF— WION (@WIONews) July 28, 2026
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your courage, your mobilization, your selflessness and your sense of commitment. I am very proud of what you do. […] Thank you for this chain of solidarity, thank you from the entire nation. This battle, we will win it together.” Emmanuel Macron
We will win this battle together, Macron said. But in reality, firefighters and emergency workers feel let down and abandoned by the French Republic.
So much so, that they called for a strike to protest the lack of resources and support from the authorities.
🇫🇷⚡️- Thousands of firefighters in France have started a strike following “disastrous” early talks with the government.
Among their main demands are better salaries, new trucks, as the average fire truck in France is around two decades old, and for more cancers to be recognized…
— Rerum Novarum // Intel, Breaking News, and Alerts (@officialrnintel) August 13, 2026
Politico reported:
“French firefighting unions are calling for a nationwide protest next month after accusing the government of failing to adequately support them during a summer of unprecedented heat.
‘We are asking for the necessary resources to protect French citizens’, said Xavier Boy, a spokesperson representing several firefighters’ unions.
The strike will take place Sept. 29. Firefighters are allowed to walk out on the job but must maintain minimum staffing levels to respond to emergencies.”
French firefighters are current on strike 😬
They still respond to emergency calls obviously. They want more funding / equipment 🤷♂️ https://t.co/jdcdx6w6ai
— Actively Anti Communist – 2026 will suck 🤷♂️ (@P0rtmanMichael) August 13, 2026
The unions demand a ‘modernization’ of France’s civil security framework and a ‘massive’ recruitment of personnel.
The investments, they demand, must match the risks France faces today in Europe – the planet’s fastest-warming continent.
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