Paris Forest Fire Burns 800 Hectares, Water-Bombing Planes Deployed

A fierce and unprecedented wildfire erupted in France's Fontainebleau forest, located about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris, on the afternoon of July 12. By the morning of July 13, the blaze had consumed 800 hectares and continued to spread, prompting authorities to close sections of the main A6 highway connecting the north and south of the country.

Emergency services scrambled two water-bombing planes to the scene as the fire raged. Officials described the situation as "fierce" and "unprecedented." The Seine-et-Marne fire department reported that about 15 households in the nearby village of Vaudoue were evacuated. Firefighters are working to extinguish flames in several other villages.

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If there were no fire planes, residents of other villages might have already needed to be evacuated.

Olivier Compta, who is directing the firefighting efforts, stated that without the aerial support, residents of other villages might have already needed to be evacuated. A total of 400 firefighters are engaged in the battle. Eric Brocardi from the National Federation of Firefighters of France noted that this is the first time water-bombing planes, typically deployed in France's drier, hotter southern regions, have been sent to assist in the Paris area.

Two additional water-bombing helicopters and one observation aircraft are also assisting. Brocardi emphasized that the primary objectives are to save lives and property. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's office announced he would visit Fontainebleau on July 13. Nunez also mentioned that French forests have already lost 17,000 hectares to fires this year.

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This is the first time that fire planes, usually from the drier and hotter south of France, have been deployed to fight fires in the Paris region.