Fontainebleau Forest Fire Burns 800 Hectares During France's Third Heatwave

A wildfire has burned 800 hectares in the Fontainebleau forest about 40 miles southeast of Paris. The fire partially closed France's main north-south highway and forced delays of up to six hours on trains at Paris's Gare de Lyon. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said two people were arrested in connection with the Fontainebleau blaze and 59 others across France in connection with fires.

He stated there were about 10 fire ignition points within a perimeter of 1,000 meters, which suggests the fire could have been deliberately set. Nunez told France 2's 8 PM News that the two arrests concerned deliberate or accidental arson in the region.

President Emmanuel Macron wrote that the Fontainebleau forest had been struck by a fire of exceptional magnitude and that all available resources are being mobilised.

The Paris region is experiencing its third heatwave of the year. Firefighting planes were sent from southern France to the Paris region for the first time. Two firefighting helicopters and one observation aircraft were deployed to the Fontainebleau fire, Eric Brocardi of France's national federation of firefighters said.

Since the start of the year, wildfires have covered some 25,000 hectares of land in France, Julien Marion, director general of civil security, said. The latest heatwave forced the temporary shutdown of three nuclear power stations. Organisers shortened Sunday's Tour de France stage by 30 km as temperatures neared 40C.