Arbonne-la-Forêt, FRANCE – More than 400 firefighters were battling a rapidly spreading forest fire south-east of Paris on Sunday night, after flames tore through 800 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest and forced the evacuation of nearby homes.
The blaze, which officials described as “very virulent” and of “exceptional scale”, erupted late on Sunday afternoon in the sprawling forest about 60km south-east of the French capital, causing widespread disruption during one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer.
Authorities deployed two firefighting planes from southern France to tackle the flames – the first time such aircraft have been sent to the Paris region to fight fires. Two helicopters and an observation aircraft were also scrambling to contain the blaze, which was still spreading early on Monday morning.
Around 15 homes were evacuated in the nearby village of Vaudoue, with firefighters working to defend several other towns in the area. The A6 highway, France’s main north-south artery, was partially closed, whilst high-speed rail services to south-eastern France faced delays of up to six hours.
Evacuated residents described scenes of panic as ash began falling and flames closed in on both sides.
“We could see the ash falling,” said Valerie, who fled her home with her husband Daniel and their pets. “We put the cats and dogs in the car… we could see the fire on both sides.”
The couple sat outside near the war memorial in Vaudoue on Sunday night, unsure where they would sleep.
Olivier Compta, who is overseeing the firefighting operation, said that without the firefighting planes, other villages would already have been evacuated. Firefighting aircraft were forced to suspend operations after nightfall, leaving ground crews to battle the flames through the night.
“The aim is to save lives and property,” said Eric Brocardi of France’s national federation of firemen.
The fire erupted just ahead of the 14 July national holiday and during the first major weekend for summer holiday departures, causing transport chaos across the region.
At Paris’s Gare de Lyon station, travellers faced lengthy delays. Kelly (34), a physiotherapist, said the disruption was inevitable. “It’s global warming. It’s the disruption of the seasons…there are political decisions to be taken,” she said.
ALSO READ: Wildfire kills at least 12 of different nationalities in southern Spain
The Paris region and large parts of France are experiencing the third heatwave since May, dramatically increasing the risk of fires. Organisers of the Tour de France shortened Sunday’s stage by 30km as temperatures on the route approached 40°C.
The extreme heat has forced officials to shut down three nuclear power stations and has contributed to thousands of excess deaths across Belgium, Britain, France and Spain, according to official estimates.
The June heatwaves would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, according to the World Weather Attribution group of scientists.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who announced he would visit Fontainebleau on Monday, said forest fires had already consumed 17 000 hectares this year. He added that once all figures were tallied, the total would reach 25 000 hectares – twice as much as the same period in 2025.
The Fontainebleau forest, a former royal hunting preserve, is today dotted with quiet villages and is a popular destination for hikers and climbers.
ALSO READ: Paris landmarks close early as France endures third heatwave since May
