Fontainebleau Forest Fire Contained After Burning Over 2,000 Hectares

The wildfire that raged through France's Fontainebleau forest, located on the outskirts of Paris, has been "contained" but not yet fully controlled, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The blaze has consumed slightly more than 2,000 hectares of the forest.

Nuñez reported that the fire is no longer progressing, attributing the improvement to better weather conditions, particularly a decrease in wind. The fire had two primary hotspots: one, the larger one, covered 1,600 hectares and started on Sunday, while a second hotspot ignited on Monday and affected 450 hectares. The minister indicated that investigations are underway, and two individuals have been provisionally arrested in connection with the fires, though he declined to provide further details.

Nationwide, 59 arrests have been made for suspected arson this year. The Fontainebleau forest, a significant green lung for France spanning over 20,000 hectares, is known for its oak and coniferous trees, as well as its wildlife, and is recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The fire occurred near the historic Fontainebleau Palace, a popular tourist destination. This year, approximately 32,000 hectares have burned across France, raising concerns about a record year for wildfires, significantly exceeding figures from the previous exceptional year.