Key facts
- A fire of "exceptional scale" is raging in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris.
- The blaze began Sunday afternoon and has spread across 800 hectares.
- 15 homes in the village of Vaudoue have been evacuated.
- The A6 highway, a major north-south artery, has been partially closed.
- France is currently experiencing its third heatwave since May.
A significant wildfire, described by officials as "very virulent" and of "exceptional scale," is currently raging in the Fontainebleau forest, located approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. The fire, which ignited on Sunday afternoon, has already spread across 800 hectares and continues to advance, prompting the evacuation of around 15 homes in the nearby village of Vaudoue. The blaze has also led to the partial closure of the A6 highway, a crucial north-south transportation route in France.
Firefighting efforts are underway, with 400 firefighters, two firefighting planes, two helicopters, and an observation aircraft deployed to combat the flames. Operations by firefighting aircraft were suspended overnight due to darkness. Authorities are working to defend several other towns in the vicinity. This incident occurs during France's third heatwave since May, a period marked by record-breaking temperatures across Europe and an increased risk of wildfires.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, forest fires have already consumed 17,000 hectares this year, a figure expected to reach 25,000 hectares once fully tallied, which is double the amount for the same period in the previous year. Fire bomber planes, typically deployed in drier southern regions, have been dispatched to the Paris region for the first time to assist in extinguishing the blaze.