70 kilometers south of the French capital, Paris, a massive wildfire is raging in the famous Forest of Fontainebleau. Heat and strong winds are making the situation worse.
Image: Stephane Mahe/REUTERS
The fire broke out late Sunday afternoon near a highway and spread rapidly through the dry forest. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, police are investigating the incident as a suspected case of arson; they discovered numerous points of origin within a 1,000-meter (3,280 feet) radius.
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Every year, small fires break out in the AI-monitored forest of Fontainebleau. This one is already among the most devastating in decades. According to authorities, more than 800 hectares of forest had already been destroyed by midnight on Sunday. By Monday afternoon, over 1,200 hectares had burned — about 5% of the total forest area.
Image: Thomas Samson/AFP
The wildfire is also affecting traffic. The major A6 highway between Paris and Lyon has been closed. At the same time, smaller fires in the region are causing massive disruptions to the TGV high-speed rail network. Travelers are stranded while emergency crews work to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Image: Benoit Tessier/REUTERS
More than 400 firefighters are working around the clock. “The battle continues today,” the French fire department said on Monday morning. Two firefighting planes are supporting the efforts on the ground. To save time, they refuel their tanks while flying over the Seine.
Image: Thomas Samson/AFP
Emergency responders are battling a fire that is constantly seeking new fuel. Hot winds and dry conditions make vegetation easy prey for the flames.
Image: Jean-Baptiste Quentin/MAXPPP/picture alliance
The Forest of Fontainebleau is one of the largest contiguous forest areas in Western Europe. Once a royal forest, it now belongs to the French government. The famous Château de Fontainebleau, France’s first Renaissance building, was used as a hunting lodge by the Sun King, Louis XIV.
Image: Franck Desprez/SDIS 77/AFP6 images1 | 66 imageshttps://p.dw.com/p/5H3VC
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