Solidarity heatwaves and wildfires: a month of action

In response to the record-breaking temperatures and fires of unprecedented scale that have struck several regions of France, Fondation de France launched an appeal for donations on 27 July to help the victims – particularly those who are most isolated and vulnerable – and to support those working on the front line. Nine million euros have already been raised. Thanks to this huge outpouring of solidarity, Fondation de France has already provided support to 27 local charities and pledged nearly €700,000 to meet the urgent needs of those affected by these disasters. We take a look at what has been done so far.

Meeting basic needs

In the affected areas, organisations supported by Fondation de France are addressing the most urgent needs of those affected by the wildfires and heatwaves, particularly those who are most isolated and vulnerable (the elderly, the homeless and young children). These include:

• The NGO Partagence Nord-Sud Organisation has joined forces with the charity Familles Rurales to support 300 households whose main homes were destroyed by the fires in Gironde, Landes and Var. Particular attention is paid to the most vulnerable people. Families receive practical assistance with re-equipping their homes, social support to help them with the necessary procedures, and psychological support.

• The charity Faits de cœur is providing support in Gironde to around 50 elderly people and family carers who have been left vulnerable by the fires. In partnership with social housing providers, social services and healthcare professionals, it organises preventative initiatives, one-to-one and group counselling sessions, referrals for psychological or medico-social support, as well as initiatives to maintain social connections and combat isolation.

• The Gironde Medical and Psychological Emergency Unit (CUMP33) at the Charles Perrens Hospital in Bordeaux provides medical and psychological support to the victims of the fires, particularly children, the elderly and displaced individuals, as well as frontline professionals. The CUMP has carried out 800 telephone consultations since the start of the summer and has also set up on-site help desks to provide direct support to victims. “With the support of Fondation de France, we can extend our outreach and get as close as possible to the communities affected. In the event of a disaster on this scale, some people find themselves isolated or are no longer able to travel: it is up to us to reach out to them and provide the medical and psychological care they need,” explains Dr Charles-Henry Martin, lead psychiatrist for the CUMP in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

• The charity Arc-en-ciel 93 Nord, whose community health centre is based in Saint-Denis, provides in-home care for around 100 elderly people, who are particularly vulnerable during heatwaves. The team has increased the number of visits, particularly to the most isolated people, and adapted their care to meet their hydration and support needs during periods of extreme heat.

• The ABRI charity in Seine-Saint-Denis has stepped up its support for homeless people. Its night shelter provides them with a safe place to stay, a meal, access to showers and psychosocial support. This summer, the outreach teams stepped up their daytime patrols and handed out water and misters, whilst opening hours were extended to give people respite from the heat.

• The Bordeaux-based charity Garage Moderne distributes 470 meals a week during its food drives, as well as face masks. Every week, it organises charity breakfasts for nearly 100 homeless people in air-conditioned venues. It also puts its expertise as a community garage at the service of the emergency services, providing free servicing for emergency vehicles, victim support vehicles and ambulances. “At a time when life is getting even harder for the most vulnerable people, we have been able to step up our outreach and food distribution thanks to the support of the Fondation de France. Our work is a long-term commitment and we will continue to support these groups,” explains Julien Goret, the charity’s deputy director.

• The Wany The Pooh charity works to rescue pets, farm animals and wildlife in disaster-stricken areas. The organisation has 1,880 volunteers and works alongside the fire brigade. In 2026, it received more than 2,500 calls for help and responded to incidents in several departments, including Pyrénées-Orientales, Gironde, Landes, Aude, Hérault and Var. Its teams rescue and transport the animals to veterinary clinics, care centres or shelters. Thanks to the support of the Fondation de France, the charity is able to cover part of the costs of veterinary care, transport and equipment.

Supporting those working on the front line 

Fondation de France also supports those who work tirelessly every day to provide aid to affected communities and regions. These include:

• The FNSPF (French national fire brigades federation) provides support to frontline staff by meeting their human and practical needs. Against a backdrop of increasing numbers of fires and heavy demands on fire crews, Fondation de France provides emergency aid to firefighters who have suffered material losses and supports the Departmental Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS) in purchasing the equipment needed for their operations: vehicles, hoses, chainsaws, tyres, protective gear, etc.

• The Protection Civile de Corse organisation mobilised more than 50 volunteers during the major fire in the Restonica Valley, in Haute-Corse, to provide logistical, medical and food support to the teams working to tackle the blaze. In particular, it set up rest areas, provided water and meals, and deployed medical support to prevent the effects of fatigue and heat. In the face of increasingly severe forest fires, the charity has been able to upgrade its equipment and strengthen its response capabilities thanks to support from Fondation de France.

As well as responding to emergencies, Fondation de France also takes a long-term approach. It supports local communities affected by these disasters – particularly farmers and craftspeople – as they recover and get back to work, whilst backing initiatives to better anticipate the risks associated with climate change and strengthen the resilience of local areas. “As summer draws to a close, the situation remains highly uncertain: the effects of the heatwave and the wildfires are still being felt by those most affected, and there is still a risk of the fires reigniting due to the drought. The main challenge is to provide immediate support to those affected by the disaster, whilst at the same time supporting the recovery of the affected areas and ensuring that reconstruction is tailored to cope with increased climate-related pressures. To this end, Fondation de France works in close collaboration with residents, associations and local authorities,” explains Karine Meaux, head of Fondation de France’s Emergency Response Unit.

Photo : © David Sepeau