Forest of Fontainebleau Burning: For the First Time, Firefighting Aircraft Relocated from Southern France to Île-de-France

The general weather situation is favoring the spread of the fire: France is currently experiencing its third heatwave of the year. A total of 37 départements in France are on the red heat alert level, according to available data. On Sunday as well, several new daily temperature records were registered in multiple regions.

Heatwave Grips Large Parts of Europe

Due to the fire, a section of the A6 motorway had to be closed. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced that part of the A6 – a major traffic artery heading south – had to be closed because of the fire. The A6 connects Paris with the south of France and is one of the country's busiest routes.

A6 Closed Temporarily

The heatwave also has Spain firmly in its grip: a forest fire in Andalusia has claimed several lives. At least twelve deaths in a forest fire in southern Spain are to be mourned, according to available sources. Meanwhile, the forest fire in Spain is no longer spreading, as situation reports note.

Spain and Italy: Forest Fires with Deaths and Enormous Damage

It is not only forested areas that are suffering under the persistent heat. Farmers' association: livestock produce less milk in the heat – heat is bad for animals' fertility. Animal shelters protect animals from the heat. Authorities are responding with sometimes unusual measures: shade from forklift trucks in Solothurn.

Consequences for Animals and Agriculture

Switzerland is also affected by the heat. The federal government is extending the heat warning until at least Thursday. You can find the weather forecast from SRF Meteo under the linked reference. It applies from Monday to large parts of northern Switzerland as well as to Ticino and Valais.

Switzerland Extends Heat Warning

In Italy, the drought has also left its mark. A forest fire in Piedmont has destroyed up to 900 hectares. The combination of weeks of heat, parched soils, and strong winds has created ideal conditions for forest fires in several European countries.

Observers see the accumulation of fires as a further sign of the effects of climate change on southern Europe. The successive heatwaves and the ongoing drought are increasing the risk of major damage events in forests and residential areas, according to observers.

The fire service in Île-de-France announced that firefighting operations in the Forest of Fontainebleau will continue overnight. Further updates on the course of the fire, the A6 closure, and the deployment of firefighting aircraft are expected as soon as reliable information becomes available.

At the same time, cleanup operations are underway in Spain following the forest fire in Andalusia. According to available reports, the situation there has stabilized, and the death toll continues to be documented.