France investigates two teen volunteers over massive Fontainebleau forest fire

French prosecutors have placed two 18-year-old volunteer firefighters under formal investigation for allegedly igniting a fire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris. The investigation follows an initial confession by one suspect that he used a lighter and gasoline to set twigs alight, which he later retracted, according to the BBC. The blaze has consumed roughly 5,000 acres, forced around 1,000 residents to evacuate and partially closed a major north-south highway. About 10% of the UNESCO-listed forest, which includes the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, has been damaged, though no fatalities have been reported.

President Emmanuel Macron visited the area on Thursday and said the fire is among the worst in France since World War II. He emphasized that arson will not be treated leniently as the country confronts an unusually intense wildfire season, with nearly 11,000 fires recorded this year amid repeated heat waves linked to a warming climate.

"There will be no leniency for arsonists," Macron said during his visit.

Authorities note that the proximity of the fire to Paris—less than 50 miles from the capital—makes the incident particularly concerning.