Two Arrested on Suspicion of Arson in Wildfire Near Paris
Two individuals have been taken into custody in France after a large forest fire near Fontainebleau burned over 1,300 hectares and forced the evacuation of about 1,000 people.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Monday, July 13, that two people have been detained following a forest fire near the commune of Fontainebleau, 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. They are being held on suspicion of intentional or accidental arson.
One of the suspects is 18 years old with no prior criminal record. When detained, his hands were covered in soot, and he had a lighter in his possession. The fire is one of the most severe in the Paris suburbs in recent times, scorching over 1,300 hectares of forest. Around 1,000 residents were evacuated to safety.
The firefighting effort involved 600 firefighters, supported by four Canadair aircraft, two Dash planes, and three helicopters used for water drops. Rescue operations commander Jean-Marc Sicard reported that 187 water drops were carried out. As night fell, about 600 firefighters remained on duty. The blaze also led to the closure of several highways.
France is experiencing its third heatwave of the year, with wildfires damaging 32,000 hectares of land—roughly twice the area affected in the same period last year. Nationwide, authorities have arrested 59 people suspected of intentional arson or negligence, such as failing to extinguish cigarette butts.
