PARIS, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A coalition representing nine firefighter unions in France on Thursday called for a strike during an exceptional wildfire season and a heatwave affecting the country.
In a statement issued by the National Federation of Firefighters of France, nine unions representing firefighters and specialized personnel expressed concerns over "major difficulties" facing the firefighting sector, including chronic staff shortages and a severe lack of equipment.
The unions called for greater efforts to address firefighters' occupational wear and tear, ensure sustainable funding, provide effective equipment and maintain stable, regular recruitment.
As wildfires have reached an exceptional scale and firefighters have been heavily mobilized in France this summer, the unions said that the demands for both firefighters and their services have continued to grow.
On July 26, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that wildfires had burned 115,000 hectares across France since the beginning of 2026, setting a historical record for the country, including 42,000 hectares in a wildfire in Gironde in southwestern France.
As a new heatwave sweeps France, 80 departments are under orange heatwave alert on Thursday, while 50 departments face a high wildfire risk, according to Meteo-France. ■