Forest lights: these mandatory gestures to protect your house from flames

Each summer, forest fires make the headlines. Mostly caused by a human activity, and aggravated by climate change, several regions are currently affected. To limit risks and protect your home, simple gestures and prevention rules are essential.

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Climate forecasts are not optimistic. While the firefighters face the flames of Forest lightsespecially in the south and the center of France, these claims will unfortunately be repeated at an even greater frequency. Météo France warns on its website that in “A +4 ° C France by 2,100, the risk of fire will be widespread throughout the country with strong aggravation in the Mediterranean region». THE global warming will also extend the period of vigilance, the fire season which can extend one to two additional months in some regions.

The beginning of the summer of 2025 is marked by particularly violent fires across Europe: Greece, Spain, Turkey, Germany … On a national level, Eric Brocardi, spokesperson for the National Federation of Firefighters was sorry for the situation on LCI: “”Today the firefighters are not very armed ” Faced with the intensity of climate change. A justified alert because according to a study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution June 24, 2024: the number and intensity of the “megafics” have been multiplied by 2.2 in the world for the last twenty years.

Although in the past two years “were characterized by a number of forest and vegetation fires lower than the average of the last 15 yearsIn France, explains the government in its press kit, the year 2022 was marked by extremely destructive fires. The flames had then ravaged near 60,000 hectares mobilizing the land forces, as well as water bombers. Faced with the intensity of these fires, there are gestures, sometimes compulsory, or good practices, to be followed to avoid fires or their spread.

Unblock your land: an effective and compulsory measure!

Christophe Chantepy, National Forewife Defense Expert (DFCI), explains that “The clearing around a home is a guarantee of securing the housing in self-protection». Now, to protect homes near risk areas, it is even a Legal deburging bond (Old) provided in the forest code. The brushcutting aims to reduce vegetable materials around its home by cutting the grass, branches, brush, pruning shrubs, seeing trees, etc. In 43 departments, as soon as the home is less than 200 meters from a forest, the owner must brush it on a depth of 50 meters. “”Concretely, the less burning plants there are, the less fire will be important. The goal is to really limit the intensity and propagation of flames“Exhibits the expert.

Being a legal obligation, administrative and criminal sanctions are provided for in the event of non-compliance with these gestures which can save your home and those of your neighborhood. Are notably provided in the absence of clearing: a fine of up to 50 euros per m² uncrowded, but also a 5th -class Verbalisable contravention by a flat -rate fine of 200 euros and also, an increase in the insurance franchise. Christophe Chantepy recalls that “La real sanction remains that of fire».

A legal obligation that works because according to experience feedback, nearly 9 out of 10 dwellings that burned in a forest fire were not, or badly, brushcakes. This measure also allows the firefighters to intervene in a secure manner. In the event of a fire alert, the general rule will be to remain confined in his home, “If it is well -clearedthis is truly the privileged place to confine yourself in the event of forest fires». In this confinement situation, the evacuation being the exception, the agent of DFCI recommends to introduce inside the home the watering pipe “To prevent it from burning, and thus being able to use it to turn off the flameches remaining after the fire in its garden, if they are not too important».

House materials: an additional factor in the propagation of flames

There are other practical advice and recommendations. “”You should not keep near the home of combustible materials. As, the gas reserve stuck at home, the firewood on the outside walls of the house“Says Christophe Chantepy. It is also crucial to store your equipment in the event of prolonged absence: to remove tarpaulins and home garden tools to prevent them from becoming fuels.

Some materials are also “less at risk than othersIn particular stone houses. “”Wooden shutters will be more resistant to the radiation of fire than plastic shutters“, Specifies Christophe Chantepy. In the event of damage caused by a forest fire, the National Institute of Consumption (Inc) specifies on its website that “Forest lights are not covered by the warranty natural disasterit is the fire guarantee contract for your home insurance that will apply ”.