A fast-moving wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest, about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris, is burning at an “exceptional” scale, French officials say. The fire starts late Sunday in the forest area, described as a former royal hunting preserve surrounded by villages. By late Sunday night, it has already covered hundreds of hectares, and early Monday it is reported to have scorched around 800 hectares, with crews working to slow its spread.
Authorities deploy two firefighting aircraft to the Paris region to support ground crews. The blaze affects travel during a busy summer holiday period and comes amid an ongoing heatwave. The A6 motorway, a main north-south route, is partially closed, and traffic disruptions are reported. High-speed rail service is also disrupted in connection with the fire, according to at least one report. Officials also carry out evacuations of nearby villages, though the extent is not detailed across all accounts. Firefighting efforts continue into Monday as the fire remains active and spreading.
