In brief
Heat‑driven wildfire erupted in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, rapidly covering 800 hectares and hampering major transport routes. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez believes the fire was deliberately set, citing multiple ignition points and arrests for arson. President Emmanuel Macron lauded firefighters while the crisis underscored Europe's vulnerability to escalating temperatures and associated wildfires.
A fierce blaze in the Fontainebleau forest has entered its second day, sweeping across 800 hectares (about 3,120 acres) and threatening the main north‑south highway that serves Paris.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire may have been deliberately set, pointing to ten separate ignition points found within a 1,000‑meter radius, a pattern “indicative of intentional arson”. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the blaze, with 59 others across France charged for related fires.
The heatwave that has already broken several European temperature records is a key factor, as high temperatures drove the fire quickly to an “exceptional scale” and hindered normal firefighting tactics.
For the first time, aircraft normally used in the country's southern, drier regions were deployed to the Paris vicinity. Two firefighting helicopters and an observation plane were operating from multiple bases, joining ground crews in a coordinated effort to contain the spread.
President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with residents and praised the firefighters, calling the incident a “test of all our resources”. He reaffirmed that the country would do everything necessary to safeguard lives and property.
The fire disrupted transport links, causing up to six‑hour delays on high‑speed trains between Paris and southern cities. SNCF warned commuters of the extended journey times.
Due to the rising temperatures, three French nuclear power stations were temporarily shut down to prevent the release of excessively warm cooling water into rivers.
Climate experts highlight that Europe is heating at twice the global average, leading to more frequent heatwaves, altered water supplies, and intensified wildfires. Other European nations—Spain, the United Kingdom—are already experiencing notable wildfire incidents, underscoring the continent’s growing vulnerability.
