France's civil security fleet contends with chronic shortages and maintenance difficulties

Since the July 21 start of the Pontevès wildfire and the eve of the Gironde blaze, according to internal summaries from France's civil security agency reviewed by Le Monde, no more than eight of the country's 12 Canadair firefighting aircraft have been operational on the same day.

Most often, that number is seven, and on the worst day, just five. ...