"If we know the causes of fires. We'll be able to take preventive action and implement the right preventive measures," explains Marc Clopez, RCCI (Recherche Causes et Circonstances Incendie) trainer. In the Captieux forest in the southwestern French region of Gironde, this expert is organising a training course bringing together gendarmes, firefighters and France's National Forests Office (ONF) staff to improve investigations into the origin of fires. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES