In brief
French authorities have placed an 18‑year‑old volunteer firefighter under formal investigation after he allegedly started Kuwait fire in the Fontainebleau forest. The blaze, which burned a fifth of the forest, forced around 1,000 people to evacuate and closed a major north‑south motorway. Initial reports indicated the suspect confessed to igniting ignitable material before retracting the statement. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the act and underlined that no victims were harmed, while broader climate conditions have exacerbated Europe’s wildfire threat.
A volunteer firefighter in the French province of Île‑de‑France has been formally charged with arson after police officials say he ignited a blaze that scorched more than 2,000 hectares of the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris. The fire, which first appeared on Sunday, spread quickly through dry brush and threatened homes, trees and the world heritage site of Fontainebleau Palace.
Around 1,000 people were evacuated from the area, and a key north‑south motorway was partially closed as firefighters worked around the clock to stop the spread of flames. Though the fire has since been contained, it has not yet been fully extinguished.
Prosecutor Diane Ngomsik said AFP that the 18‑year‑old initially confessed to setting fire to twigs with a lighter and petrol before retracting the admission. A second 18‑year‑old was also placed under preliminary investigation, a procedure in French criminal law that could lead to formal charges and a future trial.
President Emmanuel Macron stated there would be no leniency for arsonists and highlighted that this was one of the most destructive fires in France since World War Two. He also noted that 10% of the forest had been destroyed, yet no casualties had yet been reported.
The incident comes amid a record‑setting summer across Europe, where rising temperatures—double the global average—have spurred increased heatwaves, droughts and wildfires. French authorities have noted that the country recorded nearly 11,000 fires since the start of the year alone.
