Two arrested for Fontainebleau forest fire confess guilt

Two young men, both born in 2007, have confessed to starting the fire that ravaged the Fontainebleau forest near Paris, according to the public prosecutor's office. The blaze, which consumed over 2,000 hectares, is now contained but not yet under control.

One of the suspects, identified as a volunteer firefighter, admitted to using a lighter to ignite branches in the Arbonne-la-Forêt area. The second individual confessed to accidentally starting the fire by discarding a cigarette. Authorities had suspected arson from the outset, as fires began on both Sunday and Monday.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that the main fire covered 1,600 hectares, with a second fire adding another 450 hectares. The forest, a significant green lung for France and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is located near the historic Fontainebleau Palace. This year, France has already seen approximately 32,000 hectares burn, raising concerns about a potential record year for forest fires, significantly exceeding figures from previous years.