Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Gironde - SDIS 33

What Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Gironde - SDIS 33 does

SDIS 33 (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Gironde) is a French departmental public establishment headquartered in Bordeaux, providing statutory fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical aid, and specialized rescue services across the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Established in its modern form by prefectoral order on 22 July 1994 and consolidating the Libourne, CUB, and Arcachon corps by 2001, the organization operates a network of 64 fire stations organized into 7 territorial groupements, supported by 1,248 vehicles, a 24/7 CTA-CODIS emergency call center, and the Dragon 33 helicopter operated by the USSH unit since 2022. Its operational portfolio spans urban and forest firefighting (640 forest fire departures and 28,833 hectares burned in 2022), emergency medical services SUAP (representing ~80% of the 137,551 interventions in 2024), and specialized rescue including GRIMP high-angle, aquatic, technological risk, cynotechnics, and debris rescue. The organization is distinguished technologically by an AI-powered forest fire detection camera network deployed on 21+ watchtowers, using computer vision to detect smoke within 3 minutes across 360-degree, 20km-range surveillance.

SDIS 33 is funded through the budget of the Conseil Départemental de la Gironde, with the Departmental Council President serving as President of CASDIS and operational supervision exercised by the Préfète. It carries out a state-mandated monopoly on fire prevention, protection, and extinguishing services under Article L1424-2 of the Code Général des Collectivités Territoriales, and is the sole authorized body for fire safety inspections of public establishments (ERP) and 2,413 ICPE industrial sites. The organization employs 5,479 personnel across professional firefighters (SPP, 1,913), volunteer firefighters (SPV, the majority of posts), and administrative/technical staff (PATS, 429), with a dedicated medical service (SSSM) and seasonal surge capacity for summer coastal deployment.

Its go-to-market is non-commercial: services are delivered free at point of use to the 1.6M+ residents and 800,000+ summer visitors of Gironde via emergency numbers 18 and 112, with public-facing administrative services (intervention attestations, fire safety regulation guidance) accessible through pompiers33.fr. Distribution relies on the territorial station network and the CTA-CODIS dispatch center, while stakeholder engagement is maintained through public reports, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube), school internship programs, Junior Firefighter (JSP) youth development, and inter-agency coordination with SAMU, Gendarmerie, Croix Rouge, and MNS lifeguards.

Name

Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Gironde - SDIS 33

Legal name

SDIS de la Gironde

Website

https://pompiers33.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

French departmental public fire and rescue service covering Gironde's 1.6M+ residents, operating 64 stations, 1,248 vehicles, AI-powered forest fire detection, Dragon 33 helicopter, and emergency medical services representing 80% of 137,551 annual interventions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety and Emergency Fire and Rescue Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Management & Disaster Response (EOC, Civil Defense) (BPAIAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Fire and rescue services
• Emergency medical response
• Forest fire detection
• Specialized rescue operations
• Civil safety services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Primary funding from Conseil Départemental de la Gironde (Departmental Council), which is the principal financier under French law. The President of the Conseil Départemental serves as President of CASDIS (Conseil d'Administration du SDIS). Additional funding from regional and national government sources.
2. Public Service Budget: Annual operational budget managed through CASDIS deliberations, with expenditures committed by President and revenues generated through legal fees, training services, and public attestations
3. Emergency Response Services: Core services provided free of charge to citizens, funded through public taxation. No direct revenue generation from emergency interventions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SDIS 33 is a public safety organization delivering fire prevention, urban and forest firefighting, emergency medical aid and patient transport (SUAP, approximately 80% of operational activity), specialized rescue (high-angle, aquatic, technological risks, search-and-rescue dogs), and aerial rescue. Operational delivery is supported by 64 fire stations, 1,248 vehicles, a CTA-CODIS coordination center, and an AI-powered forest fire detection camera network.

Product overview

The SDIS 33 (Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours de la Gironde) is a public safety organization operating as a unified emergency services platform. The core portfolio comprises firefighting and forest fire suppression, emergency medical services (SUAP, representing ~80% of activity), specialized rescue operations (high-angle, aquatic, technological risks, search-and-rescue dogs, debris rescue, animal rescue), and aerial rescue via the Dragon 33 helicopter unit. Operational infrastructure includes the CTA-CODIS 24/7 call processing and coordination center managing three alert levels. A distinctive technology asset is the AI-powered forest fire early detection camera network (21+ cameras on elevated points) using computer vision to detect smoke within 3 minutes. The organization also delivers prevention services including risk assessments for public establishments and industrial facilities, and manages school work experience programs to engage youth in fire service careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Prevention and Risk Assessment Services Fire prevention, risk evaluation, and safety compliance inspections for public establishments (ERP) and industrial facilities (ICPE) across the Gironde department, including SEVESO-classified sites.
• Emergency Firefighting Operations Urban and forest firefighting operations across the Gironde department, supported by 162 CCF (forest fire trucks), specialized forest fire units, and aerial firefighting coordination with Sécurité Civile Canadair CL415 and Dash bomber aircraft.
• Emergency Medical Services and Patient Transport (SUAP) Emergency medical aid and patient transport services (Secours d'Urgence aux Personnes), accounting for approximately 80% of SDIS 33 operational activity, delivered through 135 VSAV rescue ambulances and dedicated SSSM medical staff in coordination with SAMU.
• Specialized Rescue Units Specialized rescue capabilities including GRIMP high-angle rescue, SAV/SAL aquatic rescue, technological risk response (RCH/RAD/POL), search-and-rescue dogs (cynotechnics), debris rescue (SD), animal rescue (ISA), and long-duration engagement teams (ELD/IBNB) operating in Gironde.
• Dragon 33 Helicopter Search and Rescue Unit Heliported rescue unit (Sauveteurs Spécialisés Héliportés - USSH) of 20 specially trained agents providing maritime, inland water, and land rescue operations across Gironde's lakes and Atlantic coastline using the Dragon 33 helicopter.

Quantifiable outcome

• 137,551 interventions handled in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Préfecture de la GirondecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Collaboration with the Préfète Sophie Brocas for presenting and coordinating the summer security deployment on the Gironde coastline. The Préfète oversees the inter-agency coordination for beach safety, rescue operations, and fire protection during the high-tourism summer period.
• Gendarmerie NationalecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint school internship program where students spend one week at SDIS fire stations and one week at the Gendarmerie caserne Battesti in Mérignac. Coordinated security deployment for the department during summer tourist season.
• Croix Rouge de GirondemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Red Cross establishment at the Bastide fire station for enhanced emergency response capabilities and cross-training with SDIS firefighters.
• MNS (Maîtres Nageurs Sauveteurs)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coordination with beach lifeguard services for water rescue operations along the Aquitaine coastline, particularly for baïnes (dangerous rip currents) rescue operations using Dragon 33 helicopter.
• Sécurité Civile - Dragon 33 HelicoptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Civil security helicopter based in Bordeaux operated by SDIS 33's 20 USSH (Sauveteurs Spécialisés Héliportés) agents for maritime, inland water, and land rescue operations.
• VALOREMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewable energy developer presenting two wind farm projects (Maransin with 5 turbines, Lesparre with 8 turbines) to SDIS for operational safety assessment during planning phase.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile et de la Gestion des Crises (DGSCGC): National-level civil security directorate under the Ministry of the Interior; comparable as the overarching body that funds and operates Sécurité Civile helicopters (including Dragon 33 SDIS 33 pilots) and coordinates national wildfire aerial assets (Canadair CL415/Dash).

Direct peers

• SDIS du Rhône: Departmental fire and rescue service for Rhône (Lyon area); comparable in dense urban EMS demand, industrial/hazmat risk profile, and operation of large specialized rescue units.
• SDIS de l'Hérault: Departmental fire and rescue service for Hérault (Montpellier region); comparable as a Mediterranean-coastal SDIS facing similar high wildfire and seasonal tourism surge demands, with analogous volunteer/professional staffing mix.
• Bataillon de marins-pompiers de Marseille (BMPM): Naval fire brigade serving Marseille; comparable in operating a high-readiness intervention force, marine and industrial incident response, and specialized rescue capabilities within a single metropolitan jurisdiction.
• SDIS des Alpes-Maritimes: Departmental fire and rescue service covering Nice/Côte d'Azur; comparable in combining high-volume EMS activity, coastal/rescue operations, hillside wildfire risk, and seasonal population surge response.
• SDIS des Bouches-du-Rhône: Departmental fire and rescue service for the Bouches-du-Rhône department (Marseille/Aix region); comparable in operating a hybrid professional/volunteer force, multiple specialized rescue units, and one of the highest intervention volumes in France.
• Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris (BSPP): Military-status fire brigade serving Paris and inner suburbs; comparable in operating a high-volume emergency response, advanced specialized rescue teams, aerial assets, and large-scale pre-hospital medical capability — serving as the benchmark for French urban fire services.
• SDIS de l'Isère: Departmental fire and rescue service for Isère (Grenoble region); comparable in mixed urban-rural-terrain operations including mountainous rescue, industrial risk (SEVESO sites), and large personnel/volunteer base.
• SDIS du Nord: Departmental fire and rescue service for Nord (Lille region); one of the largest SDISs by population served, comparable in scale of intervention volume, urban-industrial risk exposure, and hybrid personnel model.

Emerging players

• Entente pour la Forêt Méditerranéenne (Valabre): Forest-fire training and applied-research center serving Mediterranean-region SDISs; comparable as an ecosystem partner providing R&D, training, and technology validation (including AI fire detection) that complements SDIS operational deployments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sapeurs-pompiers33
• Facebookfacebook.com/sapeurspompier33
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/service-d%C3%A9partemental-d-incendie-et-de-secours-de-la-gironde-sdis-33
• Instagraminstagram.com/sapeurspompiers33

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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