Wildfire ravages Fontainebleau forest near Paris, arson suspected

Over 1,900 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest have been burned in a wildfire that began on Sunday, July 12, 2026, just 60 km southeast of Paris. The fire, which is one of the largest in northern France in two decades, has prompted a massive response and raised suspicions of arson Source: infobae, Excelsior MX.

Arson investigation

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that the fire may have been intentionally set, citing "ten separate ignition points within a 1,000-meter perimeter and two origins on either side of the A6 highway" Source: ABC.es, El Mundo. Two individuals have been arrested, and a judicial investigation is underway Source: Excelsior MX. Nationwide, 59 people have been detained for intentional or accidental wildfires this season Source: Diario Libre.

Firefighting effort

Approximately 850 firefighters are battling the blaze, supported by four Canadair water-dropping aircraft—a first for the Paris region—along with Dash 8 planes and helicopters Source: Euronews, infobae. The fire has forced the evacuation of around 1,000 people, caused partial closure of the A6 motorway, and disrupted train services from Gare de Lyon Source: CNN en Español, ABC.es. No casualties or major property damage have been reported Source: La Vanguardia.

Context and impact

The wildfire is exacerbated by a severe heatwave, with 37 departments on red alert and temperatures reaching 40°C Source: La Voz. France has already seen 32,000 hectares burned in 2026, surpassing the total for all of 2025 Source: El Mundo. The fire has consumed about 5% of the forest, a cherished green space visited by 15 million people annually Source: ABC.es.