A large wildfire erupted on July 12, 2026, in the Fontainebleau forest, located roughly 60 kilometers southeast of Paris, amid France’s third heatwave of the year [1, 2, 3, 4]. By July 14 to 16, the fire had burned approximately 1,300 to 1,900 hectares—about 10% of the 20,000-hectare forest—according to multiple reports and President Emmanuel Macron [5, 4, 6, 7]. The fire continued to spread during this period under worsening hot and dry conditions [8].
Authorities partially closed the nearby A6 highway linking Paris to Lyon, disrupting both roadway and high-speed rail traffic [1, 9, 10, 4]. Around 900 to 1,000 residents from Fontainebleau and surrounding areas were evacuated as firefighters battled the flames [5, 4, 11]. Initial firefighting efforts involved more than 400 personnel; later, this number grew to between 850 and 950 firefighters supported by 2 to 4 aircraft including Canadair and Dash water-bombing planes conducting over 180 drops, along with helicopters [2, 10, 5, 4, 11, 6]. This deployment marked the first time firefighting planes from southern France assisted in the Paris region [1, 9].
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said arson was suspected, with two minors arrested near Fontainebleau: one a volunteer firefighter who confessed to using gasoline and a lighter, and a second who admitted accidentally starting a fire by discarding a cigarette [12, 3, 5, 6]. Nationwide, 59 people have been arrested on fire-related charges in 2026 [4, 6]. President Macron visited Fontainebleau on July 16 and promised to replant the forest, calling it "a treasure for welcoming people and for biodiversity" and pledging zero tolerance for arsonists [7, 8]. He also announced legal actions against construction workers linked to an unintentional fire start by sparks near the highway [8].
France is experiencing record-breaking wildfire conditions this year due to consecutive heatwaves and drought. Over 32,000 hectares have burned nationally by mid-2026, surpassing last year's total, with Fontainebleau among multiple large fires in France and Europe [4, 8]. Some local towns canceled official July 14 fireworks over fire risks, although illegal fireworks were still expected amid the World Cup semifinal [11].
Fire officials warned that winds and rising temperatures continued to cause flare-ups in Fontainebleau days after the initial outbreak [8]. The firefighting operations remain active as the region faces ongoing hot weather and fire danger.
