A major wildfire continues to burn in the Fontainebleau forest, approximately 60 kilometres south of Paris, as emergency services struggle to contain what local officials describe as an unprecedented blaze. The main fire, which ignited late Sunday afternoon, has already consumed nearly 1,500 hectares (15 square kilometres) of woodland. A second fire broke out near the town of Fontainebleau on Monday afternoon, reducing an additional 300 to 400 hectares to ash by Tuesday morning.
In response, French authorities have mobilised around 850 firefighters and 200 ground vehicles. For the first time in the Île-de-France region, four Canadair aircraft, two Dash water bombers, and three water-bombing helicopters are being deployed. Seine-et-Marne prefect Pierre Ory called it “a fire of a completely exceptional nature and scale, and resources that are just as exceptional, utterly unusual.” He added, “As you can see for yourselves, Dash aircraft and Canadairs flying over the Fontainebleau forest. Until now, that was something we had obviously never seen.”
Evacuations and Transport Disruptions
Although local authorities say the urban area of Fontainebleau—home to some 15,000 residents—is not directly threatened, about a thousand people have been evacuated as a precaution. Those evacuated include residents of a campsite on the forest edge. The busy A6 motorway remains closed near the town, causing significant disruption to traffic between Paris and the south.
The fire comes amid a heatwave that has heightened fire risk across much of France. Similar conditions have fuelled blazes elsewhere in Europe, including in Portugal, where over 1,000 firefighters have been deployed to tackle wildfires. The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate cross-border assistance.
Arson Suspected
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that two people have been taken into custody on suspicion of starting the fire. One suspect, an 18-year-old man, was arrested on Monday afternoon. He was found carrying a lighter, and his hands were covered in soot. Nuñez had previously indicated that the fire might be of criminal origin.
The scale of the operation in Fontainebleau underscores the growing threat of wildfires in temperate European forests, a trend linked to climate change and prolonged dry spells. The blaze has drawn comparisons to major fires in Portugal and Spain, where heatwaves have similarly strained firefighting resources.
As firefighters continue their efforts, the focus remains on preventing the flames from reaching residential areas and protecting the forest’s rich biodiversity. The Fontainebleau forest, a popular recreational area for Parisians, is also a protected site known for its unique flora and fauna.
