Météo France has set up a new fire prevention system, the Météo des forêts, to try and anticipate the risk of forest fires, which is increasing with climate change and is closely linked to weather conditions. Météo France has carried out studies showing that the risk of forest fires in France has been increasing since the 1960s and that this risk is set to continue worsening in the coming years as a result of anthropogenic climate change.
To improve prevention in this area, Météo France launched a new tool at the beginning of June, the Météo des forêts. The creation of this tool is based on the observation that weather conditions have a major influence on the spread of fires, even though more than half of all fires are caused by human carelessness or deliberate acts. With this new tool, Météo France aims to raise public awareness so that people adopt the right reflexes when risky conditions arise, and thus avoid the most serious situations.
Meteorologists use the Forest Meteorological Index (IFM), an index based on parameters such as temperature, air humidity, wind speed and precipitation. The model developed using the IFM can be used to describe the state of vegetation at a given moment, and the risk of a fire starting, spreading or worsening. In addition, Météo France has also decided to take into account the wooded area of French departments and the human activities present in high-risk areas, which can facilitate the start of fires. Every day at 5 pm, Météo France publishes two maps of mainland France, one for the following day and one for the day after.
Each department is colour-coded according to four levels of danger. The maps are accompanied by advice on how to avoid starting a fire, and what to do if one has already started. The Météo des Forêts does not, however, provide information on fires in progress, and a low risk identified as green does not mean that there is no risk.
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