Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: RAYMOND ROIG / AFP 19:02 pm, June 01, 2023

Starting this Thursday, Météo-France is experimenting with a new tool to prevent the risk of fires in France as drought continues to plague France. Based on various parameters, it will propose a color code, department by department. Last year, more than 785,000 hectares of forest went up in smoke.

It is a weather report of a new kind that will be broadcast daily from this Thursday on the site and the application of Météo France. Soberly named "forest weather", it will aim to inform the population of the risk of fires in all the departments of France. The summer of 2023 could indeed experience many episodes of drought after a winter particularly little rain and insufficiently compensated by spring rainfall. Associated with high heat, these climatic conditions are particularly conducive to fires. Last year, according to figures from the Copernicus programme and the European Forest Fire Information System, more than 785,000 hectares of vegetation went up in smoke, emitting a total of nine megatonnes of CO2.

Different parameters taken into account

This forest weather must therefore "contribute to everyone being attentive and to better understand possible local decisions to prohibit, for example, walks in the forest when the risks are too high," says Christophe Béchu, Minister of Ecological Transition. This new map will offer lighting department by department and will feature a color code ranging from green to black, like Bison Futé. And inform the population of the risk of forest fires.

"Forest weather", a new fire prevention and information tool.https://t.co/qftgVPxYYK

— DILA (@DILA_officiel) May 31, 2023

To establish an accurate diagnosis, Météo France will rely on various parameters. The temperature, the dryness of the vegetation but also the strength of the wind and the humidity of the air will be taken into account. However, this new tool will not list current or future fires, says the service-public.fr site. The scheme will be extended until the end of September, unless the situation requires its continuation.

"90% of fires are man-made"

Once the risk of fire has been established by this forest weather, it will be up to the prefectures to take the necessary measures. Barbecues, fireworks, or even certain agricultural work may be temporarily prohibited. During the presentation of the device at the end of April, Chrisophe Béchu recalled in particular that "90% of fires are of human origin and about half come from stupid gestures: cigarette butts, barbecues, grinders".

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During the summer, satellite maps will be sent to mayors to help them target risk areas within their municipality. Finally, a "forest fire weather", for firefighters will be extended this summer from 15 to 35 departments, then 55 in 2024, said last April Virginie Schwarz, CEO of Météo-France.