Fontainebleau fire still burning as 850 firefighters tackle blaze

Key Points:

• The Fontainebleau forest fire in Seine-et-Marne remains uncontrolled, with the main blaze consuming nearly 1,500 hectares and a second fire destroying 300 to 400 hectares near the town of Fontainebleau.
• Approximately 850 firefighters and 200 ground vehicles are engaged, supported by four Canadair aircraft, two Dash water bombers, and three water-bombing helicopters—a first for the Île-de-France region.
• Authorities describe the fire as exceptionally severe, deploying unprecedented resources, with local officials emphasizing the unusual scale and intensity of the firefighting efforts.
• Although the urban area of Fontainebleau is not currently threatened, about 1,000 people, including campsite residents, have been evacuated as a precaution, and the nearby A6 motorway remains closed.
• Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed two arrests related to the fire, including an 18-year-old suspect found with a lighter and soot-covered hands, amid suspicions of criminal origin.