Large Wildfire Engulfs Fontainebleau Forest Near Paris Amid Heatwave
A fast-spreading fire in the Fontainebleau forest south-east of Paris has burned about 1,900 acres, prompting evacuations, highway closures and the deployment of dozens of firefighting resources.
Firefighters deployed two aerial water-bombing planes to the Paris region on Sunday after a blaze erupted in the Fontainebleau forest, roughly 40 miles south-east of the capital. The fire, described by officials as "very virulent" and of "exceptional scale," had spread across approximately 1,900 acres by early Monday, forcing a partial closure of a main highway.
Around 400 firefighters, including crews defending several nearby towns, worked to contain the flames. About 15 homes in the village of Vaudoue were evacuated, and traffic disruptions were reported on regional highways and the high-speed rail line to the southeast of France.
The incident coincided with the start of the July 14 national holiday and the first major weekend of the summer travel season. The Paris area is currently experiencing its third heat wave since May, a factor that scientists say has heightened fire risk across Europe.
"The June heatwaves would have been virtually impossible without climate change," said a spokesperson for the World Weather Attribution research group.
The fire forced aerial units to suspend operations after nightfall, and authorities continue to monitor the situation as the blaze remains active.