Wildfires: Robert Ménard denounces the "summer spectacle" and calls for a firm policy

As France experiences one of the worst wildfire seasons in its recent history, Robert Ménard, mayor of Béziers, offers a frank assessment to Entrevue magazine. According to the elected official, the country suffers less from a lack of emotion than from a lack of political consistency.

“Every summer, the same images reappear. The flames, the Canadair water bombers, the politicians who suddenly discover the problem. Then, as soon as the first rains arrive, everything is forgotten,” laments Robert Ménard.

The mayor of Béziers points out that by the beginning of August 2026, more than 119,000 hectares had already been ravaged by flames in France, a level never before reached at this time of year. The massive fire in the Gironde region alone destroyed more than 42,000 hectares, while thousands of emergency responses mobilized resources across the country.

For Robert Ménard, the first thought should go to the firefighters.

"They are on all fronts, often risking their lives. Hundreds have been injured this year. Two professional firefighters have died in the line of duty. Yet, once the crisis is over, they are forgotten until the following summer."

The elected official believes that the funding for firefighting still falls too heavily on local authorities, even though it is a matter of national security. According to him, the state can no longer simply announce emergency plans after each disaster: a sustainable strategy must be implemented to anticipate risks throughout the year.

Another cause for concern for the mayor of Béziers: the origin of the fires.

"Nine out of ten fires are linked to human activity. A significant proportion are even deliberately set. It's no longer just a question of prevention, it's also a question of authority."

Robert Ménard laments that the penalties stipulated by law are rarely applied with the full severity permitted by the legislation. According to him, arsonists should no longer be considered mere criminals but individuals who endanger human lives, homes, and natural heritage, sometimes irreversibly.

The mayor of Béziers also calls for increased brush clearing, sustainable investment in resources to fight forest fires, and the integration of prevention into a genuine public policy, instead of ad hoc reactions dictated by current events.

"We don't need a national outpouring of emotion for two weeks every summer. We need a consistent policy twelve months a year. Firefighters, on the other hand, never take vacations."

For Robert Ménard, the increasing number of fires now constitutes a permanent challenge to which France will have to respond with more anticipation, resources and firmness, well beyond just the summer episodes.