Motorhome barbecue: at 30 metres from woodland, a simple flame can be costly

Guy, 71, had just placed the grill plate on his small folding barbecue. Outside his motorhome, parked in a quiet stopping area, the smell of merguez sausages was beginning to mingle with that of pine trees warmed by the sun. Around 30 metres away, the woodland edge looked calm, almost harmless. There was no council sign in sight, no barrier tape and no neighbour objecting. Yet this ordinary act could prove costly. The ban on lighting fires near woodland does not always depend on the local council: in many French departments, it is set by a prefectural order. During summer, the rules can tighten within hours. Sometimes, a single flame is enough.

At 30 metres from woodland, a barbecue can become an offence

We all know the feeling of thinking we have found the ideal spot: a little shade, a folding table, the motorhome levelled properly and nobody nearby. Guy had made exactly that calculation, with no bad intent. To him, his barbecue did not resemble a campfire, let alone a hazard. However, near a wooded area, forest or even dry scrubland, regulations can apply very broadly to naked flames, embers and cooking equipment.

In several French departments at risk from wildfires, prefectural orders ban the use of fire in woods, forests, plantations and heathland, as well as within a perimeter that can extend up to 200 metres around them. Guy’s 30 metres therefore do not protect him; on the contrary, they put him in a sensitive zone. The rule can apply to landowners, walkers, campers and van travellers alike. Fire does not check a council boundary before spreading.

What often confuses holidaymakers is the lack of visible signage. A council may permit parking in a stopping area, yet it has no authority to override an order issued by the prefecture to prevent fires. The council manages its area day to day; the prefect can impose wider restrictions, particularly during drought or strong winds. Let us be honest: nobody instinctively checks official orders before picking up the barbecue tongs. Yet that is precisely what can make the difference between a peaceful lunch and receiving a fine.

What campers should check before lighting the coals

The simplest habit is to look up the prefecture website for the department where you are parked. Sections are often labelled “fire prevention”, “use of fire”, “natural hazards” or “forest fires”. Some departments also publish a daily wildfire-risk map, using colours and changing guidance. Before lighting anything, Guy could have checked in two minutes whether the stopping area was within the relevant perimeter. A weather app is not always enough.

A common mistake is to assume that a gas barbecue is automatically permitted because it produces neither charcoal nor substantial embers. That may sometimes be true, but not everywhere or at every time. Some orders differentiate between appliances; others prohibit any equipment that could create a flame or spark. An electric barbecue may be an alternative in certain cases, provided there is a suitable power supply and the site rules are followed. The type of barbecue matters, but local conditions matter more.

Where there is any uncertainty, it is better to opt for a cold meal or ask the tourist office, the council or the manager of the stopping area directly. That is not giving up on a holiday; it is about avoiding an unpleasant surprise that could spoil an entire stopover.

“During periods of risk, a spark carried by the wind can be enough to start a fire,” the departmental fire and rescue services regularly remind people.

• Check the current prefectural order for the department;
• Identify the distance between the parking spot and dry vegetation;
• Avoid any flame on hot, windy days;
• Plan a meal option that requires no outdoor cooking.

A rule that goes beyond the typical Sunday barbecue

Guy’s situation illustrates something very practical about our travel habits. With a motorhome, we enjoy the idea of freedom: stopping beside a village, opening the awning, cooking something simple and watching evening fall. That freedom exists, but it must coexist with a landscape made more vulnerable by drought and summer fires. A poorly positioned barbecue does not necessarily show deliberate carelessness. Above all, it exposes a poorly understood rule that is often discovered too late.

The penalty varies according to the circumstances, the applicable order and the seriousness of the facts. A fine may be issued, especially where guidance is clearly established or the risk is high. If a fire starts, the consequences suddenly become far more serious: emergency-service intervention, property damage, civil liability and, in some cases, criminal proceedings. The real issue is not only the fine. It is how quickly an ordinary afternoon can change when the grass is dry and the wind picks up.

There is also an element of common sense that no sign can fully capture. Cracked ground, pine needles on the floor, the smell of dry vegetation, gusts shaking the branches: all these signs should make anyone hesitate before lighting even the smallest burner. After speaking with a passing officer, Guy packed away his barbecue. He brought out bread, cheese and tomatoes instead. It was not the meal he had planned, but nobody had to call the fire brigade.

Key point	Detail	Benefit for the reader
The council does not always have the final say	A prefectural order can prohibit fire near wooded areas	Prevents reliance solely on local signs or the absence of a visible ban
30 metres can be enough to fall within the rules	Depending on the department, restrictions can sometimes cover up to 200 metres around woodland	Makes it possible to assess the risk before setting up a barbecue
Rules change with the weather	Drought, wind and alert levels can tighten restrictions	Helps adapt meals and travel plans without an unwelcome surprise