It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of the ravaging wildfires that are taking place across France, but there are some ways you can help.
While firefighters remain on the front line, there are also practical ways members of the public can support those affected – both during an active emergency and in the weeks that follow.
Donate to relief organisations
If you want to provide immediate support, financial donations are usually the most effective option. Aid organisations can use the funds to buy exactly what is needed.
The Secours Populaire, a major French non-profit organisation that fights poverty, social exclusion, and inequality in France, has launched an appeal to help people affected by wildfires, providing emergency assistance. The charity says it will also need volunteers once the immediate crisis has passed.
You can make a financial donation through the Secours Populaire website. Donations made by individuals are eligible for tax relief of 75 percent of the amount donated, up to a maximum donation of €2,000, subject to the usual conditions.
Regional newspaper Sud-Ouest has also launched a fundraising campaign to support both wildfire victims and firefighters. Donations to this appeal qualify for tax relief of 66 percent of the amount donated.
The president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Renaud Muselier, has also launched a national fundraising appeal in support of the Oeuvre des pupilles des sapeurs-pompiers (ODP), a charity that provides assistance to the children of firefighters who have died in the line of duty. At the time of writing, the campaign had raised more than €60,000.
Other donations
A huge wildfire is still ablaze in the Gironde département of south-west France – more than 200,000 people have already been evacuated and the fire is drawing closer to the major city of Bordeaux.
If you are in the Bordeaux area, local authorities are also looking for donations of goods. The most urgent needs include:
- Drinks (water, soft drinks)
- Sheets
- Blankets and towels
- Hygiene products
- Dry food
- Paper
- Coloured pencils and colouring books for children
- Sleep masks and earplugs
- Pet supplies
The full list is available on the city’s website.
Authorities generally ask people not to bring donations directly to evacuation centres, as this can create logistical problems. Instead, use the designated collection points announced by local councils.
Collection points have also been set up in other départements like Dordogne and Charente-Maritime.
Volunteers
In response to the ongoing fires in Gironde, the Bordeaux Métropole is taking action to provide shelter for evacuees and coordinate relief efforts.
Depending on local needs, volunteers may assist with welcoming evacuees, organising donations, providing administrative support or helping charities coordinate relief efforts.
Volunteer registration can be found on the Bordeaux Métropole website. Volunteers can also get in touch with the Secours Populaire federation or their nearest branch.
Once the fires have been extinguished, volunteers are often needed for much longer-term recovery work, including supporting displaced families, helping vulnerable residents and assisting community organisations as they resume normal activities.
The Bordeaux Métropole has set up a free phone number to centralise offers for any kind of assistance: 0 800 006 090
Buy a calendar
Come December, the French firefighters will once again be selling their annual charity calendars, with proceeds going to firefighter charities.
The calendars are sold on a ‘pay what you like’ basis, so you might like to add a little extra this year, in recognition of their incredible work this summer.
Stay safe
If you live in or are visiting an area affected by wildfires, follow instructions from local authorities, avoid travelling into restricted zones and never attempt to approach an active fire to offer assistance.
The best way to help is to leave emergency services free to do their work while supporting recognised charities and official local initiatives.
READ ALSO: Should you cancel your French holiday due to wildfires?
Also, make sure you are not contributing to the problem by accidentally starting wildfires – around 90 percent of wildfires are sparked by human activity (although it is the underlying climate conditions that turn fires into wildfires). Many fires are started accidentally through littering, careless disposal of BBQs or driving into restricted areas.
Follow advice from firefghters on safe behaviour, and obey any local restrictions such as a ban on entering the forest during wildfire season.
If you own property, you can also help by following the guidelines on vegetation clearing.