Fontainebleau forest fire near Paris under arson investigation after 2,000 hectares burned

A major forest fire in the Fontainebleau area south of Paris is under formal arson investigation after burning more than 2,000 hectares and forcing about 1,000 people to leave their homes or accommodation. Officials say the blaze began last Sunday and has now been contained, although it has not been fully extinguished. The fire also partially closed France's main north-south motorway, adding to the disruption caused by the emergency.

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A volunteer firefighter aged 18 has been placed under formal investigation on suspicion of starting the fire, according to the prosecutor handling the case. He is one of at least six people who have been questioned over the blaze. Prosecutors said he initially admitted to setting fire to twigs with a lighter and petrol before retracting that account, while a second 18-year-old man has also been placed under formal investigation.

President Emmanuel Macron visited the area on Thursday and said there would be no leniency for arsonists. He also said there had not been so many fires in France since the Second World War, while noting that there had been no victims so far. The forest fire has affected around 10% of the historic woodland south of Paris, according to the president's remarks.

The incident has drawn attention because the Fontainebleau forest is not only a large natural area but also home to the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, which is a Unesco World Heritage site. The fire comes as France and other European countries face a series of unusual heatwaves, which officials and climate scientists say are increasing pressure on water supplies and intensifying wildfire risk. France has registered nearly 11,000 fires since the beginning of the year, underlining the scale of the challenge facing firefighters.

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The wider European context has also sharpened concern over the fire season. Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service, and record temperatures this summer have already contributed to major fires elsewhere on the continent. In Spain, at least 13 people have died in wildfires, while firefighters in north-east Scotland have been battling a large-scale blaze in the Cairngorms National Park.

What remains unclear is whether the two men under formal investigation will face charges and how the case will develop in court. It is also not yet clear how long it will take to fully extinguish the fire or whether further damage will be found in the forest once the area is fully assessed. The investigation is likely to remain closely watched because it combines a major environmental emergency with allegations of deliberate ignition and wider concerns about fire risk during extreme heat.

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