French cities deploy drones, thermal cameras, and patrols to combat increasingly early summer megafires

Summary

Article describes how French cities and fire departments are increasingly using new technologies (drones, thermal cameras) and traditional methods (clearing brush, patrols) to prepare for and prevent summer megafires. It highlights a large-scale exercise in the Morvan regional park involving Canadair planes, helicopters, and 140 firefighters, triggered by a drone-detected fire. The piece emphasizes that fires are starting earlier each year, prompting earlier preparations and a combination of tech-based surveillance and common-sense prevention rules.