Wildfires Burn 2,050 Hectares in Fontainebleau Forest Southeast of Paris

Two wildfires that began Sunday evening have burned 2,050 hectares in the Fontainebleau forest southeast of Paris as of Tuesday, July 14. The total equals 10 percent of the state-owned forest in the Seine-et-Marne department. The first fire started near the A6 national highway, which was closed because of the flames.

A second fire appeared Monday closer to the historic town of Fontainebleau. The blazes are described as rare in northern France. More than 800 firefighters remained on the ground Tuesday, including crews from the Mediterranean region and Canadair water bombers.

Firefighters from the Vaucluse department in southern France arrived Sunday evening with 10 men and two bulldozers. They built 2.8 kilometers of firebreaks overnight to protect houses near Le Vaudoué. Sergeant Franck, who requested anonymity, said the team carved paths and widened others to allow access for firefighters and to help protect property.

He noted that the northern deployment marked his first such mission in 21 years of service. The Fontainebleau forest has been proposed several times for UNESCO World Heritage status. The day's objective remained containing the fires to prevent further spread in the rugged terrain.