“ We're the next asbestos victims »" : the devastating fires of the summer have once again illustrated the exposure of firefighters to the toxic fumes of forest fires, a blind spot in their protection against the risks of the job.
The pension fund for local government employees (CNRACL), on which the profession holding its congress in Annecy since Wednesday depends, emphasized as early as 2017 that« exposure to irritants » generates « a decrease in lung function and the development of chronic lung diseases“.
ANSES, in a report published in June, confirmed "« a detrimental effect of smoke episodes on short-term non-accidental mortality«" , but also "« respiratory symptoms (cough, irritation, shortness of breath)», generally «reversible” »"but which may persist"« up to 2-3 years later“.
Guillaume Vasselin, a firefighter for 30 years, has thus developed "« an asthmatic condition with debilitating coughs four months » after the major fires in the Gironde region in 2022.
Carcinogenic and reprotoxic substances
The following winter, it was declared in "« operational incapacity »"But it wasn't until April 2023 that a pulmonologist..."« finally makes the connection with exposure to fumes«" he told AFP. That same year, he filed a claim for recognition of an occupational disease and has not returned to work since.
“ I am fighting for this cause«", said the former professional, who denounced« a scandal looming, similar to the asbestos scandal.“.
The CNRACL report also mentioned excess mortality from cancer among firefighters, notably linked to involuntary inhalation of retardant products, recognized as carcinogenic and reprotoxic substances.
Lack of studies
Sergeant Major Cédric Duivon, who has been working part-time in Haute-Garonne since being diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2023, laments« the lack of progress »"in taking into account the health of firefighters. If it has been« very supported »"by his superiors, colleagues from other departments are"« somewhat left to their own devices »"facing the disease.".
“ Do we need 300,000 firefighters to die before we realize the problem, or are we going to tackle the issue head-on?«" he asks.
Senator Émilienne Poumirol, a Socialist from Haute-Garonne, former chair of the board of directors of Sdis 31 and author of a report on occupational cancers among firefighters, deplores the lack of epidemiological studies in France on the "impact of smoke toxicity" on their health, which is nevertheless documented in Anglo-Saxon countries.
Vomiting, headaches, dizziness, nausea
Sébastien Dephot, representative of an independent union among firefighters in the Gironde region, points out that in 2026, "« In three or four days in Gironde, the amount of material burned exceeded all the figures for 2022.“.
During the megafire that burned 42,000 hectares, he saw colleagues having "« small vomits »"and get back into their truck, likely victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, also manifested by headaches, dizziness or nausea.
Poisoning from microparticles or fine particles may occur later.« For two days, when I blow my nose, it's completely black. If you have soot in your nose, you also have it in your lungs, in your bronchi, everywhere.«", thunders Guillaume Millet, CFDT delegate at Sdis 33.
Sébastien Dephot also regrets a "« taboo«: firefighters often prefer to keep their symptoms quiet for fear of being declared unfit.
Masks and balaclavas
During the massive fire in the Gironde region, firefighters donned their fire balaclavas over FFP2 masks, a quick stacking of...« unbreathable" : " When you have to unroll hoses two meters from the flames, it's not possible«", the union representative points out.
“ Is it normal to go into a fire wearing an FFP2 mask? It's just paper!«" added Guillaume Millet.
This protection is "« improvable«,« acknowledges Marc Vermeulen, who heads the Sdis 33. He nevertheless considers it preferable to a new filtering hood which offers better respiratory protection but presents a “ The risk of heatstroke is just as serious as inhaling the fumes.“.
Many firefighters consider it unsuitable, and in the Southwest, "« no fire and rescue service »"has not adopted this equipment, even though it has been on the market for two years," says Colonel Arnaud Fabre, head of the Landes firefighters.
A recent parliamentary mission recommends« a national envelope »"to finance the medical monitoring of firefighters but also"« epidemiological studies and research and development on respiratory protection, clothing, decontamination and personal protective equipment“.
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