'We’re short of everything' say striking French firefighters

A firefighter stands next to a coffin-shaped sign reading "Death by fire, suicide" in front of the Eiffel Tower during a demonstration entitled "the Reinforcement Column of Anger" at the Champs de Mars in Paris, on 27 September, 2026. © AFP - Julien de Rosa

French firefighters, who have been on strike since 8 September, set up camp at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Sunday to draw the government’s attention to a lack of resources following a scorching summer marked by a surge in wildfires. They are also due to join a public-sector strike planned across France on Tuesday.

Since 8 September, when nine trade unions representing some 44,000 professional firefighters began their strike notice, they have stepped up their protests, displaying banners, magnets and slogans on their vehicles to express their "anger."