France deployed water-bombing aircraft on Monday to help contain a major wildfire near the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris. The blaze has burned more than 800 hectares, forced the closure of a key motorway, and disrupted rail services. Authorities continue emergency operations as extreme heat fuels wildfire risks across Western Europe.
More than 400 firefighters worked overnight to contain the fire, which broke out near the A6 motorway linking Paris with Lyon and southern France. Strong winds and high temperatures accelerated the blaze through the forest surrounding Fontainebleau. Officials warned residents that Canadair aircraft would collect water from the River Seine to support firefighting efforts.
Read more: France wildfire forces mass evacuations amid Europe’s intense
The wildfire scorched over 800 hectares of land by midnight and prompted the closure of the A6 highway. Smaller fires in nearby areas also disrupted high-speed train services. Emergency crews remained on the scene as authorities worked to prevent the flames from spreading further.
#Incendies | 400 sapeurs-pompiers ont été à pied d’œuvre cette nuit pour lutter contre le feu dans la forêt de Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne) qui, depuis son déclenchement en bord d’autoroute hier après-midi, a déjà parcouru + de 800 hectares en milieu de nuit.
La lutte continue… pic.twitter.com/kwdnyS9IYw— Pompiers de France (@PompiersFR) July 13, 2026
The latest wildfire comes as Western Europe experiences its third prolonged heatwave of the summer. France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece have all battled destructive fires in recent weeks. Scientists say rising temperatures and prolonged drought conditions linked to climate change have increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires across the region.
Read more: Europe heatwave fuels wildfires, evacuations
European countries are also facing wider impacts from extreme heat, including disrupted power supplies, school closures, and record temperatures. Health experts say a late June heatwave likely contributed to thousands of excess deaths across Europe. Officials continue urging caution as emergency services respond to ongoing heat-related crises.