Firefighters battle Fontainebleau forest fire near Paris as two arrested
Major Blaze Threatens Historic Fontainebleau Forest and Palace
Arrests Made in Connection with Fontainebleau Fire
PARIS, July 14 (Reuters) - One of the people arrested on suspicion of having started the fire in a historic forest near Paris was a volunteer firefighter who confessed on Tuesday, French media said, citing the local prosecutor, as fire brigades continued to battle the blaze near one of France's best-known royal palaces.
In addition to this volunteer firefighter in Fontainebleau, who admitted to "setting fire to twigs with a lighter and gasoline," a second suspect admitted to "accidentally starting a fire by throwing away his cigarette", prosecutor Diane Ngomsik told French media.
The two men, born in 2007, had no prior criminal record, the prosecutor was quoted as saying.
Firefighting Efforts and Impact on Local Area
Extent of the Blaze and Containment Measures
A local official, Prefect Pierre Ory, said two blazes around the Fontainebleau forest were still raging but had been "contained", with the main blaze having scorched 1,600 hectares and another one nearby 450 hectares.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday 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.
Historical and Cultural Significance of Fontainebleau
The forest around the palace, which 16th-century King Francis I turned into a symbol of French power, served as a royal hunting ground for centuries. It later became a celebrated subject for Impressionist painters.
Innovative Firefighting Tactics
On Monday, for the first time, Canadair aircraft skimmed the River Seine to fill their tanks, attempting to contain a blaze that turned the sky black.
Disruptions and Evacuations
Transport and Infrastructure Impact
Just 70 km (40 miles) from Paris, the fire forced the closure of the A6 highway linking the capital with Lyon and the south. Smaller fires in the area also disrupted high-speed train services.
Evacuations
As many as 900 people were evacuated from their homes.
Wider Context: Record-Breaking Fire Season in France
Nunez said the Fontainebleau blaze is contributing to what will likely be a historic year for fires in France, with 32,000 hectares burned already this year, more than the total in 2025.
"We'll probably have a record year," he said. "We expected this with this major drought."
Heatwaves and Climate Change
Europe is enduring its third heatwave of the summer, with tinder-dry vegetation and high temperatures fuelling blazes from the Iberian Peninsula to France. Many scientists say climate change is making wildfires more frequent and difficult to combat.
National Response and Arrests
Nunez said 59 people have been arrested across France on suspicion of starting fires across the country. Around half were adults and half minors, with some repeat offenders, he said.
(Reporting by Michel Rose and Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Kevin Buckland and David Gregorio)
