PLAN OF THE PRESENTATION
Forest Fire Fighting
BRATISLAVA
19, 20 et 21 septembre 2012
The French doctrine for forest fire fighting
EUROPEAN REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FUND
Colonel Robert BARDO
Directeur Général
Entente pour la Forêt Méditerranéenne
Domaine de Valabre - RD 7
13120 GARDANNE
Tél : +33 (0)4 42 60 86 50
Fax : +33 (0)4 42 60 86 51
Email :r.bardo@valabre.com
http://www.entente-valabre.com
2
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
I
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
II
ORIGIN
III
GENERAL FOREST FIRE STRATEGY
IV
EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK
V
CONCLUSION
VI
PROSPECT
VII
FOR THE RECORD
3
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
TERRITORIAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION
DEFENSE AND SECURITY ZONE
Zone North
Zone West
Zone East
ZONE OF
Zone South-East
Zone South-West
Zone South
4
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
FOREST FIRE ZONE
5
ZONE
POPULATION
AREA (km²)
% WOODED
SUD
7 730 194
78 681
47,17 %
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
MIC*
European
RESCUE COORDINATION
COZ
Zonal
CODIS
Departmental
First aid
COGIC
National
National or
international
reinforcement
National or zonal
reinforcement – Specialized
rescue teams
Departmental means
* Monitoring and Information Center
6
ORIGIN
I
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
II
ORIGIN
III
GENERAL FOREST FIRE STRATEGY
IV
EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK
V
CONCLUSION
VI
PROSPECT
VII
FOR THE RECORD
7
ORIGIN
1963 – ENTENTE
1986 - VULCAIN
More than 3000 fire
starts
8
More than
45000
hectares
ORIGIN
9
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRE
I
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
II
ORIGIN
III
GENERAL FOREST FIRE STRATEGY
IV
EXPERIENCE FEEDBACK
V
CONCLUSION
VI
PROSPECT
VII
FOR THE RECORD
10
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
A GENERAL STRATEGY
A HARMONIZED DOCTRINE
December 1986
11
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
1° - A GLOBAL APPROACH :
 PREVENTION and FIGHT GO TOGETHER
 Common and coherent frame based on a
GLOBAL conception
2° - A GOLDEN RULE
 ANTICIPATE TO BETTER MANAGE
12
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAJOR OBJECTIVES
PREVENT FIRES
MASTER FIRE STARTS IN THE INITIAL STAGE
AVOID CATASTROPHIC DEVELOPMENTS
REHABILITATE BURNT AREAS
13
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
PREVENT FIRES
14
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
1° - PREVENT FIRES (It’s an essential objective) :
 Identification and treatment of the causes
Multidisciplinary approach 
 fire Causes
www.promethee.com
15
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
1° - PREVENT FIRES :
 Information and public awareness
16
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
1° - PREVENT FIRES :
 Establishment of a Forest Fire risk Prevention Plan
17
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
1° - PREVENT AND FORECAST FIRES :
 Evaluation and analyze of the risk
- Meteorological data (Indicate IFM) wind –
dryness - Occurrence of fires
- Criteria of flammability and combustibility
- Aggravating factors : topography
- Concentration of population
- Operational data
18
Indication of the risk
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
Example of a risk level map
19
E
Exceptional risk
TS
Very severe risk
S
Severe risk
M
Moderate risk
L
Light risk
F
Low risk
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
1° - PREVENT FIRES :
 Dissuasive surveillance
 mobilize ground and aerial means
 It is the first step of the general preventive
mobilization
20
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
Aerial surveillance : the « GAAR »
21
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
A fire start symbolizes the beginning of the failure of the
preventive device !

2°- Control Fire starts in their initial stage, with ground or
Aerial means in less of 10 minutes
22
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
CONTROL FIRE STARTS IN THEIR INITIAL STAGE
23
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
2°- MASTER FIRE STARTS IN THEIR INITIAL STAGE :
 Arrangement of the ground
Strategic green cuts
24
Forest Clearing
Creation of specific roads
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
2°- CONTROL FIRE STARTS IN THEIR INITIAL STAGE :
 attack starting fires, in less of 10 minutes
It is the major action of forest fire fighting
 Attack the fire at the very beginning with :
Ground means
Aerial means
SPEED and the STRIKE FORCE = success of the operation
25
GENERAL STRATEGY FOREST FIRES
THE 4 MAIN OBJECTIVES
2°- CONTROL FIRE STARTS IN THEIR INITIAL STAGE :
 Preventive mobilization
26