Section 1: Common provisions relating to fire and rescue services

In each department, a public establishment is created, called the “departmental fire and rescue service”, which includes a departmental fire brigade, composed under the conditions provided for in article L. 1424-5 . The departmental fire and rescue service may also include a fire and rescue service citizen’s reserve defined in section 2 of chapter IV of title II of book VII of the internal security code. This public establishment is…

When they are not part of a public establishment for inter-communal cooperation with jurisdiction over fire and rescue services, municipalities participate in the exercise of jurisdiction over fire and rescue services by contributing to the financing of the departmental or territorial fire and rescue service. They are then represented on the fire and rescue service’s board of directors. When a commune transfers, pursuant to article L. 1424-35, competence in fire…

The fire and rescue services are responsible for preventing, protecting against and fighting fires. They contribute, along with the other services and professionals concerned, to the protection and fight against other accidents, disasters and catastrophes, to the assessment and prevention of technological or natural risks and to emergency rescue and care. Within their remit, the fire and rescue services carry out the following missions: 1° The prevention and assessment of…

The fire and rescue services are placed for employment under the authority of the mayor or the prefect, acting within the scope of their respective police powers. To carry out the prevention missions for which they are responsible, in particular with regard to the regulations applicable to fire and panic risks in establishments open to the public, the mayor or the prefect has at its disposal the resources falling within…

In the exercise of their police powers, the mayor and the prefect implement the resources under the responsibility of the fire and rescue services under the conditions laid down in operational regulations drawn up by the prefect after consulting the board of directors of the fire and rescue service. The organisation of the command of rescue operations is determined by these regulations. The designated emergency operations commander is responsible, under…

A National Conference of Fire and Rescue Services is set up under the Minister for Civil Protection. It comprises a Member of Parliament and a Senator, representatives of the State, at least a quarter of whom are representatives of volunteer and professional firefighters and the majority of whom are representatives of the boards of directors of the fire and rescue services. Its composition, the procedures for appointing its members and…