France moves to increase fines for cigarette‑butt wildfires amid rising pyromane incidents

French fire services estimate that 10 %–30 % of summer wildfires are sparked by improperly discarded cigarette butts, prompting public outrage and calls for harsher penalties. Petitions submitted to the National Assembly seek to raise the on‑the‑spot fine from €135 to between €500 and €750, while existing law already allows imprisonment of up to ten years for arson causing major damage. Two suspects were recently detained in the Landes region during a police crackdown on forest‑fire offenses, and officials are also urging a ban on smoking while driving.

Lawyer Muriel Gestas, who has defended several arsonists, warned that many pyromanes are “hardly curable” and act either from pathological motives or for modest financial gains such as low firefighter overtime payments. She argued that the current sanctions are insufficient to deter repeat offenders, and noted that convicted pyromanes often receive short sentences and early release, underscoring the need for stricter legal and compensation measures.