A fire, likely caused intentionally, ravages part of the iconic Fontainebleau forest, near Paris

A forest fire affecting the Fontainebleau forest, southeast of Paris, which has already devastated about 800 hectares, could have been deliberately set, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who stated this Monday during a visit to this area on the outskirts of Paris.

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“About ten fire spots were detected within a perimeter of one thousand meters, as well as two points of origin located on both sides of the A6 highway, which suggests that it could be an intentionally set fire,” the minister explained during a press conference upon his arrival in the town of Noisy-sur-École, in the Seine-et-Marne department.

The investigation has been entrusted to the National Gendarmerie to clarify the origin of the fire that started around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

YOU CAN SEE: France keeps 37 departments on red alert for extreme heat this Monday

Nuñez described the disaster as “totally exceptional and unprecedented” and noted that the 800 hectares burned represent nearly 5% of the surface area of the emblematic Fontainebleau forest.

“We hope to be able to contain the fire today, although efforts to extinguish it completely could extend for several days, or even weeks,” the minister estimated.

A total of 500 firefighters, from the fire and rescue service of the Seine-et-Marne department and reinforced by personnel from other departments, including some from southern France, are deployed in the area.

This Monday, two Canadair tanker planes, two Dash 8 aircraft, and three water-bombing helicopters are also participating in the extinguishing efforts, in an unprecedented deployment of aerial resources in the Île-de-France region, where a fire of this nature is a novelty.

The fire forced the preventive evacuation of about 900 people who mainly lived in homes located at the edge of the forest. No casualties or damage in inhabited areas have been reported, thanks to the firefighters’ actions, who managed to protect the urban centers.

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The emergency is part of an especially critical situation across the country. France maintains 37 departments on red alert for extreme temperatures this Monday, including Paris and its region, while others remain on orange alert. Météo-France forecasts highs between 37 and 41 degrees in much of the territory, in the third heat wave affecting the country since late May.

32,000 hectares already burned, more than in all of 2025

Nuñez explained that only between Sunday and Monday about 250 fires were recorded throughout French territory, of which about thirty were considered critical and had to be attended to simultaneously.

So far this year, about 32,000 hectares have already burned, an area larger than that recorded during the entire 2025 fire season, he specified.

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The minister attributed this situation to the combination of extreme temperatures, especially abundant vegetation after the rains recorded at the end of 2025, and the presence of strong winds, factors that, he said, anticipate a “very complicated” fire season.

44 arrested

He also called for caution and reminded that nine out of ten fires have a human origin. He reported that security forces have already made 44 arrests related to forest fires, of which approximately two-thirds correspond to deliberately set fires and the rest to accidental causes.

Nuñez insisted on taking extreme precautions, especially on the edges of roads, where a high percentage of fires originate, as well as with barbecues and fireworks.

Regarding the latter, he indicated that each prefect (government delegate) will decide case by case whether to authorize their celebration on July 14 (National Day) depending on the existing risk, although he acknowledged that, given the current conditions, “it is preferable to forgo them when there is danger.”

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