A regulation to protect forests from wildfires

Updated on 14/04/2026

Gironde is one of the main French departments affected by forest fire risk. The exceptional fires that struck the Landes de Gascogne massif during the summer of 2022 (particularly in La Test de Buch, Landiras, Landiras St Magne, Saumos, and Arès) destroyed over 28,700 hectares. In total, no fewer than 638 fires were recorded for the year 2022 alone—a grim record never matched since the fires of 1940.

Over the past ten years, the department had already experienced several notable fires exceeding 100 hectares (Saint-Jean-d’Illac in 2015, Captieux in 2017 and Cissac-Médoc in 2017, Saint-Michel-de-Castelnau in 2018, Captieux, Le Tuzan and Lapouyade in 2020, Avensan in 2021). These incidents highlight the vulnerability of Gironde to forest fire risk.

An interdepartmental regulation for forest protection against fires was adopted in 2016 to better protect forests from fires.

Gironde, a department particularly sensitive to forest fires

In Gironde, forests cover 520,000 hectares, equivalent to half (50.2%) of the department's total area (Source: [NAFU Observatory](https://observatoire-nafu.fr/ "https://observatoire-nafu.fr/")). This forested area is predominantly composed of private forests (93%).

In the department, 159 municipalities are considered particularly sensitive to the risk of "forest fire." These are classified as "forested-dominant municipalities" and listed in the annex of the interdepartmental regulation for forest protection against fires.

Nevertheless, sensitivity to forest fires is not uniform across Gironde. In addition to the forest of the Landes de Gascogne massif itself, the department's specific characteristics are:

→ peri-urban forests, bordering roads and railways (more exposed due to their proximity to human activities);

→ dune forests along the coastline, heavily visited in summer and where the terrain makes interventions difficult;

→ military training areas (where interventions are difficult, particularly due to the presence of unexploded munitions).

##### Aggravating factors

Forest fires in Gironde are more frequent in March and April due to factors that worsen the risks:

→ the high flammability of maritime pines, which make up the departmental forest;

→ Vegetation such as molinia (a grass) and ferns (whose leaves are dry toward the end of winter) constitutes fuel that can rapidly spread fire under the influence of the dry east wind blowing at the beginning of spring;

→ soils, mainly sandy and very moist in winter and spring (due to the rise of the water table), can make access difficult for firefighting vehicles;

The summer months represent a second sensitive period due to the combined effects of drought and low moisture content in vegetation, compounded by high tourist activity in these areas.

A single interdepartmental forest fire protection regulation

Gironde, Landes, and Lot-et-Garonne face the same challenges and risks regarding forest fires. In light of this assessment, the prefects of Gironde, Landes, and Lot-et-Garonne have harmonized the regulations currently in force in their respective departments to better protect the forest against fires across the Landes de Gascogne massif.

From 20 April 2016, these three departments have therefore been governed by a single regulation: [the interdepartmental regulation for forest protection against fires.](/contenu/telechargement/68511/510960/file/R%C3%A8glement+interd%C3%A9partemental+de+protection+de+la+for%C3%AAt+contre+les+incendies.pdf "PDF - 1,64 Mb - 18/07/2023")

This regularly updated regulation (latest version dated 7 July 2023) aims to better prevent forest fires, facilitate emergency service interventions, and limit consequences—through scrub clearance, limiting fuel supply, and regulating forest activities—in the departments of Gironde, Landes, and Lot-et-Garonne.

##### Five progressively increasing levels of vigilance

Defined by colors ranging from green (access permitted) to black (traffic prohibited), these vigilance levels allow assessment of risk levels according to the time of year and specific territories.

[https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/carte-de-vigilance](https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/carte-de-vigilance "Visit the https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/carte-de-vigilance website - opens in new window") and [https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/mesures-adaptees](https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/mesures-adaptees "Visit the https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/mesures-adaptees website - opens in new window")

Forest Fire Risk Prevention Plans (PPRIF)

Parallel to the interdepartmental regulation for forest protection against fires, the State has implemented Forest Fire Risk Prevention Plans (PPRIF) since 2002. These plans, applied to territories with major stakes, aim to limit exposure to risks for people and property.

Their main objective is to establish a mapping of high-risk zones and to regulate these zones, notably by prohibiting new human settlements in the most dangerous areas, restricting them in other zones, and prescribing measures to reduce the vulnerability of installations and buildings, including existing ones in certain cases.

Today, 13 PPRiF are in effect in the following municipalities: Grayan et l'Hôpital, Naujac-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-Médoc, Saint-Médard-en-Jalles, Lacanau, Carcans, Hourtin, Lanton, Biganos, Andernos-les-Bains, Martignas-sur-Jalle, Saint-Jean-d'Illac, and Vensac. Of these 13 PPRiF, only one is currently under revision and concerns the municipality of Saint-Jean-d'Illac.

* [Go to the dedicated section on Risk Prevention Plans](https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Environnement-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Prevention-des-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Les-risques-dans-ma-commune "Visit the https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Environnement-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Prevention-des-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Les-risques-dans-ma-commune website - new window")

Departmental Major Risks File (DDRM)

Established by the departmental prefect, it is the reference document for preventive information. It lists all identified natural and technological risks for each municipality in the department, assesses their consequences on people and property, and recalls preventive, protective, and safeguarding measures.

* [Departmental Major Risks File (DDRM) - dedicated page on this website](https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Environnement-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Prevention-des-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/La-gestion-de-crise-face-aux-risques-majeurs/Le-dossier-departemental-des-risques-majeurs-DDRM/Le-dossier-departemental-des-risques-majeurs-DDRM "Visit the https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/Actions-de-l-Etat/Environnement-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/Prevention-des-risques-naturels-et-technologiques/La-gestion-de-crise-face-aux-risques-majeurs/Le-dossier-departemental-des-risques-majeurs-DDRM/Le-dossier-departemental-des-risques-majeurs-DDRM website - new window")

* [Departmental Major Risks File - DDRM 2021 - Gironde: Forest Fire Risk](https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/85578/642951/file/DDRM-2021_Gironde_Risque_Feu_For%C3%AAt.pdf "Visit the https://www.gironde.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/85578/642951/file/DDRM-2021_Gironde_Risque_Feu_For%C3%AAt.pdf website - new window")

For more information

* [Departmental Operations Order for Forest and Natural Areas Fires 2024](/contenu/telechargement/72596/542380/file/OODFFEN_2024_SDIS33_V4%2BArret%C3%A9.pdf "PDF - 30.87 MB - 26/03/2024")

* [Interdepartmental Plan for Protection of Forests Against Fires](https://draaf.nouvelle-aquitaine.agriculture.gouv.fr/Nouvel-article,2126 "https://draaf.nouvelle-aquitaine.agriculture.gouv.fr/Nouvel-article,2126") (website of the DRAAF Nouvelle-Aquitaine)

* [Regional Association for Forest Fire Protection (DFCI)](https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/ "https://www.dfci-aquitaine.fr/") (association website)