Two arrested as firefighters battle Fontainebleau forest fire near Paris
Firefighters are battling a massive wildfire near the historic Palace of Fontainebleau in France, which has already scorched 1,300 hectares and forced evacuations. Authorities have arrested two individuals on suspicion of arson as the country faces a record-breaking year for wildfires exacerbated by severe drought and heatwaves.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the increasing threat of climate-driven wildfires in Europe and the strain on emergency resources during extreme weather events.
Firefighters battled through the night to tackle a blaze that tore through a historic forest near Paris on Tuesday (July 14, 2026), with at least two people arrested on suspicion of having started the fire near one of France’s best-known royal palaces.
“It is not under control,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said late on Monday (July 13, 2026), adding that the main blaze in Fontainebleau and another one nearby that started on Monday (July 13, 2026) afternoon had scorched 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres).
Mr. Nunez said the fire was just a few kilometres away from the Palace of Fontainebleau, which explained the deployment of considerable resources, including water-carrying planes and helicopters.
For the first time, Canadair aircraft on Monday (July 13, 2026), skimmed the River Seine to fill their tanks, attempting to contain a blaze that turned the sky black.
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