Alpes-Maritimes: severe vigilance against forest fires

The Alpes-Maritimes are facing a severe fire risk, confirmed by the prefecture and illustrated by several recent fires in Tanneron and Roquebillière. The national prevention campaign and public innovation devices are being deployed to limit fire outbreaks and strengthen territory protection.

The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture announces a “severe” fire risk across the entire territory. The national prevention campaign is beginning as a new heat wave is expected to reach up to 36°C this week and several recent fires, in Tanneron and Roquebillière, remind us of the department’s fragility.

The Alpes-Maritimes are among the 52 departments classified at risk for summer 2026. The prefecture confirms a “severe” danger in a context where the heat wave is intensifying. Météo-France predicts a national peak between June 19 and 21, with temperatures that could approach 40°C in the most exposed regions. The Alpes-Maritimes department is expected to reach up to 36°C this week.

This meteorological tension is added to several recent fires. A double vegetation fire outbreak mobilized 45 firefighters from Var and Alpes-Maritimes on Friday, June 12 in Tanneron. The fire broke out on the edge of the A8 motorway.

In the Vésubie valley, a forest fire broke out in Roquebillière. Fifteen hectares burned. The fire was contained by bomber aircraft that carried out several drops. About twenty firefighters and Force 06 agents remain mobilized to prevent a new outbreak in the area.

These local events are part of a national trend marked by 15,827 fires and 30,500 hectares burned in 2025. Soil drought affected at least 30% of the territory between May and August. The prevention campaign reminds that “9 out of 10 fires are of human origin.” Messages target cigarette butts, barbecues, work that generates sparks, and fuel storage. Clearing vegetation remains an obligation in at-risk areas.

The Forest Weather forecast, broadcast daily at 5 p.m., indicates a danger level on a four-level scale. The summer of 2025 had 81 days with at least one department at high level and 13 days at very high level.

Projects Against Forest Fires

Alongside prevention, the State is strengthening support for innovative projects through France Experimentation. The inter-ministerial system has already processed 500 files. Solutions range from administrative support to regulatory changes, including temporary experiments.

The 500th project, led by Unicancer, opens the way for a national experiment on the collection and redistribution of unused anti-cancer drugs. A provision included in the Social Security financing law for 2026 authorizes this approach as an exception.

Other developments concern sectors present in the Alpes-Maritimes: reuse of medical devices, reuse of DASRI containers, digital construction signs, or new rules for gray water recycling. These adjustments respond to concrete needs in healthcare, circular economy, construction, and water management.

The national forest defense strategy, published in 2025, structures public action around prevention, reducing burned areas, and protecting populations. Land and air resources are being strengthened. Early detection is progressing thanks to drones, cameras, and summer patrols. The Green Fund supports local authorities in financing prevention equipment and protective measures.

In an exposed department like the Alpes-Maritimes, this combination of prevention, innovation, and adaptation forms an essential foundation for limiting fire outbreaks and strengthening territorial resilience.