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Wildfire Devours About 800 Hectares Near Fontainebleau and Disrupts Routes to the Southeast

Officials say high temperatures, drought, and stretched firefighting resources make containment likely to take one to two weeks.

Overview

  • The fire started yesterday and has burned roughly 800 hectares in the Fontainebleau forest, about 60 kilometres southeast of Paris.
  • About 400 firefighters remain engaged and crews have called for reinforcements from across France to sustain a prolonged response.
  • Aircraft and helicopters were brought in from the south to drop retardant in what officials called an unprecedented use of aerial assets in the Paris region, but nightfall forced aerial operations to stop.
  • The blaze has forced the closure of the A6 motorway and interruption of the southeast high-speed TGV line, creating major travel delays and local smoke visible up to 20 kilometres away.
  • Hot, dry soils and a national heatwave have increased fire risk across multiple departments, meaning authorities are prioritizing protection of people and property while preparing for sustained operations.