Wildfire near Paris May Have Been Deliberately Ignited, Minister Says

Mon Sep 14 2026 10:15:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Firefighters battle a raging blaze in Fontainebleau forest as France's interior minister hints at arson amid a third heatwave in Paris.

The wildfire that has scorched 800 hectares of forest south of Paris has moved into its second day of fighting, with the French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez suggesting it may have been set deliberately. Two people were arrested in connection with the fire, and emergency services have deployed planes, helicopters and observation aircraft—an unprecedented use of resources in the Paris region. The blaze, described as “virulent” and of “exceptional scale,” has closed a key north‑south highway, caused up to six‑hour train delays, and led the president to mobilise all available resources while the country confronts record temperatures and a third heatwave this summer. Beyond the immediate blaze, France’s wildfires cover 25,000 hectares this year and have forced the shutdown of three nuclear plants, prompting broader concerns about climate‑driven heatwaves across Europe.

Firefighters in France are now battling a massive wildfire that has entered its second day of fighting in the Fontainebleau forest, located about 60 km southeast of Paris.

Officials describe the blaze as “virulent” and of an “exceptional scale,” and it has forced the temporary closure of the country’s primary north‑south highway.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire may have been deliberately set, after the blaze spread across 800 hectares. He announced that two people were arrested for “deliberate or accidental arson” and that 59 arrests nationwide are linked to fires.

The Paris region is currently experiencing its third heatwave this year, amid a summer in which temperature records have been broken across Europe.

This is the first time aircraft from the hotter south of France have been deployed to fight fires in the Paris region, with two firefighting helicopters and an observation plane joining the operation.

Firefighter Eric Brocardi cited the goal of the emergency response: “The aim is to save lives and property.”

Nunez noted that nine ignition points within a 1,000‑meter perimeter suggest deliberate intent, adding that the authorities are investigating those possibilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media that the forestry blaze was “a fire of exceptional magnitude” and that all available resources are being mobilised as he expressed solidarity with local residents.

The fire also blocked an east‑bound highway and disrupted a high‑speed train line south of France, causing delays of up to six hours for passengers at Paris’s Gare de Lyon, according to SNCF.

Since the start of the year, wildfires have covered some 25,000 hectares of land across France, and the latest heatwave has forced the temporary shutdown of three nuclear power stations to avoid discharging warm cooling water into overheated waters.

Even sporting events have been affected: the Tour de France shortened a Sunday stage by 30 km as temperatures approached 40 °C.

Climate change is driving record‑breaking temperatures across Europe, with the continent warming twice as fast as the global average. The rising heat is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves and wildfires, with the latest fires in Spain killing at least 13 people and in the UK a large wildfire in North Wales declared a major incident.