Climate
Fires in Gironde: Swiss firefighters deployed, militia system under strain
En direct
Swiss firefighters are deployed in Gironde, France, to support French services battling wildfires ravaging the Landes forest since mid-July 2026. After 9 days of firefighting efforts, the fire is now stabilized and contained; highway A63 has reopened and 9 communes have been reintegrated. A second Romande detachment takes over relief operations. This international deployment highlights vulnerabilities in Switzerland's militia system—where 98.6% of 74,318 Swiss firefighters serve as volunteers. Rising natural disasters linked to climate change are intensifying pressure on this model.