The record 98,000 hectares burned in 2026 is not simply a natural disaster—it is the predictable result of years of insufficient prevention. While the government's evacuation and firefighting response may have saved lives, the scale of the destruction reflects deeper failures. Critics point to neglected forest management, including insufficient clearing of underbrush, lack of firebreaks, and a ban on controlled burns that has been lifted only after the crisis. These measures, if implemented earlier, could have reduced fire intensity and slowed spread.
Firefighters themselves have long warned that they were underfunded and understaffed. The description of a system 'at breaking point' is not new; reports from past years warned of vulnerability. Yet budget allocations for civil security and forest management have not kept pace with growing climate risks. The result is that a fire that might have been containable became uncontrollable, requiring massive evacuations and causing immense economic and environmental damage.
Insurers now face a wave of claims estimated in billions, costs that will ultimately be borne by policyholders. The SNCF disruption and smoke pollution across much of France underscore the wide impact of the government's reactive approach. Accountability is needed: elected officials and agencies must explain why preventive measures were delayed. Without such changes, future seasons may bring even worse disasters.