8,000 Firefighters March Through Paris In Smoke-Filled Protest Over Staff And Equipment

Thousands of firefighters marched through the French capital on Tuesday, with flares filling the air as they protested over staffing and equipment after a severe fire season.

Video filmed by X user Selma Labib shows firefighters moving along Boulevard de l’Hôpital in dark uniforms and yellow FA-SPP-PATS vests while carrying yellow union flags and a red CGT SDIS 88 banner. Smoke from flares hangs over the street as the column passes Haussmann buildings and a modern block.

About 8,000 sapeurs-pompiers walked from Place d’Italie toward Bastille following a strike that began on September 8. Professional firefighters wore “en grève” stickers on their shirts.

The unions called for more staff and equipment under the banner “Des moyens, pas des miracles,” meaning “Resources, not miracles.”

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez received union leaders later that afternoon. Police put the number of firefighters in the Paris march at 8,000.

The firefighters’ column later joined the wider public-service march at Bastille.