Eight trade unions representing professional firefighters have launched a campaign for a national mobilization, starting on September 8 and lasting at least until October 20. The unions are demanding more financial, human, and material resources to support the current system, which they say is "at its breaking point" and "can no longer continue as is." The system relies heavily on volunteer firefighters, who make up about 78% of the total workforce. Over 200,000 people serve as firefighters alongside their professional careers, often sacrificing personal time to respond to emergencies, including wildfires. The unions argue that the system is increasingly overburdened. The frequency of exceptional events, such as natural disasters and wildfires, has risen, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of relying on volunteers. While the total number of volunteer firefighters has remained stable in recent years, their numbers per 100,000 inhabitants have dropped by 25% over 52 years. Meanwhile, the number of emergency interventions has grown by 35% in 20 years. Experts warn that an aging population and climate change could exacerbate these challenges. Response times for emergency services have increased by 20% since 2013, according to recent data. Volunteer firefighters face significant challenges, including long training periods and conflicting demands on their personal and professional lives. According to Pauline Born, a professor at the University of Rouen-Normandie, the current system imposes minimum hours or guard duties that can be incompatible with other commitments. Many volunteers are discouraged by the initial training, which lasts about 30 days and often requires taking time off or using weekends. While volunteer firefighters are cheaper to employ—since they do not incur social or employer charges—their availability is not always guaranteed. The unions are calling for the hiring of 21,000 professional firefighters, a number based on a 2025 report by the Inspection générale de l'administration. This would help build experience, which is difficult for volunteers, who often face high turnover. The unions emphasize that they are not against the volunteer model but want it to continue alongside a professional model, which allows for better territorial coverage. In urban areas, there are enough volunteers, but in rural areas, their presence is crucial due to the lack of resources to support full-time professionals. The closure of many rescue centers in recent years has increased response times and placed additional burdens on volunteers. To make volunteer firefighting more attractive, experts suggest reducing constraints and redefining the scope of missions to focus on core firefighting tasks.