Two wildfires have scorched over 1,300 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest, located about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. Authorities have arrested two people suspected of arson as the fires continue to spread, forcing the evacuation of around 1,000 residents. The wildfires, which erupted amid a heatwave, have disrupted rail and road traffic and required an unprecedented deployment of firefighting resources, including Canadair aircraft and water-bombing helicopters.
The first fire broke out on Sunday in the UNESCO biosphere reserve, quickly racing across nearly 1,200 hectares. A second fire, which began on Monday afternoon, has ravaged about 100 hectares. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that 59 people had been arrested across France for suspected arson, with two directly linked to the Fontainebleau fires.
One of the suspects is an 18-year-old man with no prior criminal record, who was found with a lighter and soot-covered hands. Residents like Clement Boher have been on high alert, with families prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice. President Emmanuel Macron assured the public that all available resources were being used to combat the fires.
The scale of the disaster led to the deployment of four Canadair aircraft, two Dash planes, and three water-bombing helicopters. A total of 187 water drops were carried out, with 600 firefighters remaining mobilized to fight the flames on the ground. Despite efforts, the fire continued to spread due to unfavorable weather conditions.
France is currently experiencing its third heatwave in less than three months, with wildfires raging across the country. The increasing frequency of such extreme weather events has been linked to man-made climate change by scientists. As temperatures remain high, authorities are urging vigilance and cooperation from the public to prevent further fires.
