Forest Fire near Fontainebleau: Authorities Evacuate More Than 1,000 People

Evacuation and Rescue Operation

The mayor of the town of Le Vaudoué described to broadcaster BFMTV a "wall of flames" moving very quickly that had reached the first houses on the edge of the commune. More than 1,000 residents and tourists had been evacuated, the mayor of Le Vaudoué told BFMTV.

The Forêt de Fontainebleau, which contains the château of the same name, is one of the largest contiguous woodland areas in Western Europe. Fontainebleau is home to one of France's best-known royal châteaux. It served former monarchs as a hunting lodge and autumn residence.

Impact on Transport and Infrastructure

Because of the fire, there are major disruptions during the peak holiday season on the important high-speed rail line from Paris to Lyon and further south, as the state railway SNCF announced. Rail traffic was also affected in the meantime.

The SNCF said firefighting operations along the rail line had been completed, and technicians were now inspecting the installations. From the afternoon, TGV trains were expected to run according to schedule again.

The A6 motorway between Paris and Lyon was closed in the area. The A6 motorway remained closed on one section in the meantime. Rail and road traffic was significantly disrupted by the fire.

Firefighting Aircraft Deployed

As the fire department announced, more than 400 emergency personnel and two firefighting aircraft are involved. In the morning, two firefighting aircraft took off to combat the flames, taking on water from the Seine, according to the Seine-et-Marne department. According to the fire department, two firefighting aircraft from southern France were dispatched to the greater Paris region for the first time. They need to take on water from the Seine, prompting authorities to call on residents to exercise caution.

Heat Wave and Drought as Cause of the Fire

France is currently experiencing its third heat wave of the summer. The heat wave is expected to last until the middle of the week, with only a few departments in the south and east of the country, as well as along the English Channel, spared the extreme temperatures. The first heat wave of the year hit France at the end of May, followed by a second at the end of June.

For 37 departments, the state weather service Météo France issued the highest red warning level at the beginning of the week in view of the heat. Due to the severe dryness and elevated fire risk, fireworks on the national holiday were canceled in numerous cities.

Investigation into Arson

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, during an on-site visit, stated: The fire may have been set deliberately, he said. This was indicated by a large number of fire sources within a radius of only 1,000 meters. There are approximately ten fire sources within a radius of 1,000 meters, said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The Gendarmerie has opened an investigation on suspicion of arson.

In the northern half of France, such forest fires have not been common until now. In France, more than 25,000 hectares of forest have already fallen victim to fires since the beginning of the year — more than twice as much as in the same period last year.

Impact on Energy Supply

The heat wave is also affecting French energy production. Over the weekend, due to the intense heat, three nuclear reactors had to be temporarily shut down and seven others throttled back. In addition, six reactors were throttled, the company further explained. Another reactor had been temporarily throttled but was running normally again from the late afternoon. Furthermore, reactors in Golfech on the Garonne, in Bugey on the Rhône, and in Chooz on the Meuse had been shut down, power plant operator EDF told the news agency AFP. France has 57 nuclear reactors, which produce around 70 percent of its electricity. All are located on rivers or the sea, using the water to cool the reactors. The French nuclear supervisory authority ASNR sets maximum water temperature values for each power plant.

Europe-Wide Heat Burden and Consequences

In addition to France, severe forest fires were also reported from Spain, Portugal, and Greece. In the southeastern Spanish province of Almería, the death toll from a fire over the weekend rose to 13. Sport is also affected: For the first time in the history of the Tour de France, a stage was shortened due to the heat. The organizers shortened the originally 185.5-kilometer ninth stage in the Massif Central by 30 kilometers. The international professional cyclists' association CPA demanded on Sunday that start times be adjusted during the summer months "to protect the athletes." A solution had to be found before the 2027 season to adapt the races to "climatic realities," the CPA stated.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it is clear: Due to the climate crisis, extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and flooding, heat, and drought are becoming more frequent and intense. Authorities expect that the fire can be contained by Monday, but that complete extinguishing will take days to weeks. This news was broadcast on 13.07.2026 on Deutschlandfunk.