Home / Disasters and Accidents / Fontainebleau Forest Ablaze Amidst European Heatwave
Fontainebleau Forest Ablaze Amidst European Heatwave
13 Jul
Summary
- Over 400 firefighters battled a wildfire in Fontainebleau forest.
- The blaze scorched over 800 hectares, fanned by hot winds.
- A heatwave grips Western Europe, increasing wildfire risks.
A significant wildfire erupted in the historic Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, on Monday, July 13, 2026. More than 400 French firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze, which had already consumed over 800 hectares by midnight.
Fueled by hot winds and occurring amidst a severe heatwave gripping Western Europe, the fire forced the closure of the A6 highway, a major route connecting Paris to the south. Smaller fires in the vicinity also impacted high-speed train services.
This event highlights growing concerns across Europe regarding increasingly frequent heatwaves and record temperatures. Scientists largely attribute such intensified fires to climate change, which has left large areas of continental Europe parched.
Other European nations, including Spain, Portugal, and Greece, have also experienced devastating wildfires this summer, charring thousands of hectares. The extreme heat in late June alone is estimated to have caused over 10,000 excess deaths across Europe, with disrupted power supplies and closed schools being reported.
