Fontainebleau Wildfire Scorches 1,300 Hectares, Prompts Evacuations but Spares Palace

A wildfire erupted Sunday in the Forest of Fontainebleau, about 60 km southeast of Paris. Hundreds of firefighters from across France battled the blaze on Monday as it scorched 1,300 hectares in the main fire and a nearby blaze that started that afternoon. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the fire remained uncontrolled and stood just a few kilometres from the Palace of Fontainebleau.

Police arrested at least two people on suspicion of starting the fire near the palace grounds. Canadair aircraft skimmed the River Seine to fill their tanks for the first time, while helicopters collected water from a temporary reservoir. The fire turned the sky black.

The blaze forced the closure of the A6 highway linking Paris with Lyon and the south. Smaller fires in the area disrupted high-speed train services. Up to 1,000 people in and around Fontainebleau were evacuated from their homes.

Nuñez stated that 32,000 hectares had burned across France so far in 2026, exceeding the total for all of 2025. He reported that 59 people had been arrested nationwide on suspicion of starting fires, with around half adults and half minors, including some repeat offenders.

The fire occurred during Europe's third heatwave of the summer, the day before Bastille Day and the first major weekend for summer holiday departures.

France is scheduled to play Spain in a World Cup semi-final on the evening of July 14.