Two arrested as arson-suspected wildfire scorches Fontainebleau forest near Paris
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Two arrested as arson-suspected wildfire scorches Fontainebleau forest near Paris
Wildfire near Paris forces evacuation of nearly 900 as arson suspected
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A massive wildfire raging in the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris has prompted evacuations and disrupted traffic, with authorities suspecting arson as the cause. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Monday that two people had been arrested in connection with the fire, which has scorched over 1,300 hectares of land. One of the suspects is an 18-year-old, according to sources close to the investigation.
The fire, described as of "exceptional scale" by French President Emmanuel Macron, began on Sunday and has since forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people. Hundreds of firefighters, along with two water-dumping planes, have been deployed to battle the blaze. Despite their efforts, the fire is not yet contained and continues to spread at a moderate rate.
The fire has disrupted traffic, with trains to and from the bustling Gare de Lyon train station experiencing delays, although service was returning to normal on Monday morning. A section of the busy A6 highway leading southeast of Paris was also shut down due to fire risk.
Authorities are investigating the possibility that the fire was deliberately set. Interior Minister Nunez noted that there were about 10 fire ignition points within a perimeter of 1,000 meters, suggesting that the fire could have been started intentionally.
The Fontainebleau forest fire is unusual for its proximity to the French capital, about 70 kilometers (42 miles) south of Paris. The region is known for its natural beauty and historical significance, hosting the Fontainebleau Chateau favored by Napoleon and popular with visitors from Paris and beyond.
The fire is part of a broader pattern of wildfires in western Europe as the region bakes under its third red-alert heat wave this year. In Spain, 10 people are still unaccounted for from a fire that ripped through a remote southern expatriate community last week, killing 13 people in one of the country's deadliest blazes. Among the victims are five Britons, three Belgians, one French national, one American, and one Spanish national. Belgian authorities have confirmed the identities of three Belgian victims.
French authorities are working to contain the fire and protect the affected areas. The head of the regional administration, Pierre Ory, told French media that winds are turning, which is significantly complicating the work of the firefighters.
The fire has already scorched thousands of hectares of land in southern France, disrupting the Tour de France cycling race and stretching firefighting resources. France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave of the summer, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across western and central areas and around 37 C (98 F) in Paris.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was expected to visit the site of the fire in Spain on Monday, where a 93-year-old British national died on Sunday in a hospital from injuries sustained in the Los Gallardos wildfire, elevating the death toll to 13.
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