Fontainebleau Forest
‘Our national lung’: France’s nature paradise saved by firefighters but recovery could take 30 years
The forest hosted a UNESCO conference in 1948 that led to the creation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s first global environmental union.
Flora and fauna thrive in the Fontainebleau forest, 60 kilometres southeast of Paris, where moorland and pine trees cloak hills, valleys and gorges
Its unique temperate Atlantic climate with pockets of Mediterranean microclimates supports 6,600 animal species and 5,800 plant species typical to both southern and northern Europe – from rare purple orchids to the protected Service tree of Fontainebleau.
Red deer, wild boars, European badgers and red squirrels roam its diverse terrain, with over 250 types of birds – from tawny owls to woodpeckers – soaring overhead.
Beneath the forest floor debris scuttle 5,000 insect species, including the protected Stag beetle.
All of this natural heritage came under threat on Sunday when two huge fires engulfed more than 2,000 hectares of the 25,000-hectare forest. 1,000 residents and campers have been forced to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes around the clock, deploying Canadair aircraft to scoop water directly from the Seine – the first time such aircraft have been used in the greater Paris region. Backed by Dash planes and helicopters, crews have now contained both fires, though authorities warn it could still take days or weeks to fully extinguish the smouldering flames.
‘My heart is sad the forest burns’
At least two people are in custody on suspicion of arson, with the wildfires made worse by the exceptional heatwave currently gripping the region.
“My heart is sad the forest burns… I think of the animals who live in the forest,” one Facebook user commented on Tuesday. “I lived 22 km from Fontainebleau in my youth for 40 years, and I liked to go for a walk in the forest and visit the Château de Fontainebleau.” The 1,500-room, UNESCO World Heritage-listed royal palace, which was spared the flames, was built in 1528 and is considered the seat of the French Renaissance.
In 1948, it hosted a UNESCO conference that resulted in the creation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s first global environmental union.
Inside the historic French forest engulfed by wildfires
Prized as a royal hunting ground from the 10th to the 19th centuries, Fontainebleau has evolved into a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.
Up to 15 million visitors flock there each year to hike, cycle, horseride and rockclimb – hoping to bask in the beauty described by the artists and writers who came before them, from Rousseau to Flaubert.
In fact, France’s second largest forest can even be considered the birthplace of nature tourism: French author Claude François Denecourt, enchanted by its beauty, created the world’s first marked rambling trails there in 1842.
Saddened to witness its destruction, visitors have taken to social media to express their support for firefighting efforts.
“Support and thoughts go out to the firefighters from Quebec! On this day last year, we visited this beautiful place, may God preserve it,” says one Facebook user.
Locals are equally heartbroken by the scenes of flames ravaging the ancient woodland.
“It's a bit of our history of our heritage going up in smoke, what will be left in a few years?”, says one.
“Like many French people, we are shocked because this forest is one of our national lungs. It’s sad to see this magnificent forest where I used to walk with my family as a child,” adds another.
Some visitors, reacting to the fire, have called for hunting to be suspended or banned on the historic grounds to give wildlife time to recover – though forest managers note that regulated culls also play a role in preventing deer and boar overpopulation, which can itself damage forest regeneration.
“I hope with everything that hunts are suspended for a long time and ideally forever so nature has time to rebuild,” says one Facebook user.
“Sad thoughts for these poor animals who lose their lives in horrific suffering. I hope hunting is banned in these places,” adds another.
An exceptional wildfire season fuelled by climate change
Like much of western Europe, France has sweltered through a series of unusually early heatwaves this summer, which would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, according to analysis by scientists at World Weather Attribution (WWA).
This extreme heat is fuelling wildfires across the continent, with 32,000 hectares hit across France since the start of 2026 – already more than the entire 2025 fire season.
Blazes are increasingly cropping up in historically cooler northern regions, as warming caused by the burning of fossil fuels drives global temperatures up to historic highs.
Regeneration at Fontainebleau will be a long process. Stefan Doerr, director of the Centre for Wildfire Research at Swansea University, told France 24 that the forest could take up to 30 years to recover from the damage.
“We need to prepare the environment more to reduce the risk of fire,” he said, “but we will never eliminate it completely”.
With its sandy floor that struggles to retain water and progressively deteriorating tree health, Fontainebleau is particularly vulnerable to climate change, wildfires and drought – risks that have led foresters to double down on protection efforts.
This includes planting 60,000 new seedlings each winter, including drought-resistant species. But as the risk of fires intensifies, tradeoffs may need to be made – including clearing decaying debris that’s intentionally left in place to support biodiversity.
‘My heart is on fire’: Fontainebleau forest
blaze leaves community reeling
As wildfires tear through the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, residents describe their fear and disbelief. Locals spoke to FRANCE 24 about their connection to the woodland and how the blaze is reshaping a place they called home.
Issued on: 15/07/2026 -
FRANCE24
By:
Lara BULLENS/
Bahar MAKOOI
Wildfires have scorched roughly 2,050 hectares of the famed Fontainebleau forest southeast of Paris since breaking out Sunday, forcing around 1,000 people to evacuate as some 850 firefighters work to contain the two ongoing blazes, backed by water-bomber planes and helicopters.
Officials hope to bring the fires under control on Tuesday, though earlier efforts were hampered by the heat, wind and dry conditions. The fires were believed to be started intentionally. Two people, including an 18-year-old with no prior record, have been arrested on suspicion of arson.
Amid a third major heatwave to hit France in under two months, the fire has ravaged a forest beloved by hikers and climbers and that draws millions of visitors from around the world.
FRANCE 24 spoke to inhabitants who have witnessed the devastation first-hand.
Firefighters battle flames in Fontainebleau historic forest
02:05
'He grabbed as many photo albums as he could'
"In the beginning we didn't know what was happening or how to respond. My husband was out in the garden and it started to smell like smoke. He was worried something was happening so he went up to our attic to get a better view and he saw a huge fire on the horizon."
Antonia Mehnert and her family moved from Germany to the Fontainebleau area four years ago. Her husband grew up in the area and his parents live in Vaudoué, a village less than 10 minutes from one of the ongoing blazes in Noisy-sur-École.
Vaudoué has now been evacuated and luckily for Mehnert’s parents-in-law, they were visiting family in the Alps when the fire broke out.
“It quickly became clear the fire was getting close to where his parents live. My husband drove over there and thought about all the things they would want to keep, so he grabbed as many photo albums as he could for his mother and the accordion his father plays.
“Luckily, most of the houses have not been affected so far but it’s crazy that we are asking ourselves which objects we value the most in case we have to leave.”
For now, Mehnert and her family are able to stay in their home. But because of the smoke, it is too dangerous to go outside, so they are staying indoors.
Although French authorities have stated that the fire is no longer spreading, firefighters are still working hard to contain it completely.
Having worked as an environmental education expert her whole life, Mehnert has always been convinced that if people are connected to nature, they will be more inclined to protect it.
“Fontainebleau is a magical place. I have a lot of friends from Germany who come and visit. Every time we take them to the forest, they’re amazed by the beauty of it. We also have a lot of friends from the climbing community who come. It truly is a local wonder that is known internationally.
“I’m quite scared to go out and see what the forest has become. We won’t be able to recognise what has been our backyard for the past years. We’re in shock.”
‘The forest will never be the same again’
Not a day goes by without Apolline setting foot in the forest of Fontainebleau. The 40-year-old sports instructor and Nordic walking coach lives in Bourron-Marlotte, a town about 10 kilometres from one of the fires scorching the area. By bike or by foot, she knows the forest like the back of her hand. “I was practically born in the forest. I spent my whole childhood running around the Beatrix Cave and the Plaine Verte.”
Apolline was celebrating her birthday with her family on Sunday afternoon when she spotted smoke in the sky. “I saw an enormous plume of smoke rising in the distance across the fields. I started checking social media and I haven’t stopped scrolling since. I’ll never forget that day.
“The spots in the forest that have been devastated by the fire are some of the most majestic with truly sublime views. They are where I take my Nordic walking groups. The blue footpath was carved out all the way back at the start of the century by a forest lover named Sylvain Colinet and takes you through corridors and labyrinths tucked between the most beautiful boulders. Those rocks will still be there, but they will be different,” she says, just as two firefighter planes roar over her house. “The forest will never be the same again.”
The area that burnt down was teeming with remarkable trees, says the woman who knows the “best-kept secrets” of the forest that attracts between 15 and 18 million visitors each year.
Since Sunday, Apolline has been glued to her phone in case the village mayor sends out a call for volunteers to lend a hand. “I’m on high alert like everyone else here, but I feel useless as a civilian.” The wait makes her nervous. By her side, her 10-year-old daughter Flore chimes in. “Tell the person on the phone that my heart is on fire,” the little girl says. Apolline steps away and admits that she is trying to stay as calm as possible: “I don’t want her to feel my anxiety, but it’s hard.”
A ‘playground’ in flames
“I had the shutters closed to protect the house from the sun on Sunday afternoon when a neighbour called me and told me to open them up. He said he thought there was a real problem. That’s when I saw huge plumes of smoke.”
Hugues lives in Milly-la-Forêt, a town just outside Fontainebleau, with his wife and two children. Their house is less than a 20-minute drive from both of the ongoing fires that have been ravaging the historic forest for the past three days.
“There was still very little information at the time and it was hard to figure out what was going on. I couldn’t tell if the fire was 500 metres or 10 kilometres away. I started calling friends in the area to check on them, see if they were alright.”
The 42-year-old consultant moved to the area five years ago so that his children could grow up closer to nature. Once settled, Hugues and his family quickly joined local organisations invested in the conservation of Fontainebleau and its surrounding environment.
For now, Hugues and his family have not been evacuated. And for those more directly affected by the fires, their house has been a refuge. “People living in Noisy-sur-Ecole [one of two sites where the fires are ongoing] came to stay with us when they couldn’t stand the smoke anymore. We also welcomed an exhausted volunteer for a few hours, just so they could take their mind off things.
“I haven’t had an emotional reaction to the fires yet. Though I think it will come this afternoon when I will help out with lookout efforts. The National Forests Office has asked volunteers to lend a hand and we will be stationed across several areas that haven’t been burned yet. I’m worried about driving to the meet-up point and seeing the devastation on my way there.
“For myself and my children, Fontainebleau is not only a source of beauty and freshness, it is a playground. That is also true for the thousands of people who come here from all over the world to climb the forest boulders. And while I feel I know it quite well, we keep discovering new places within the forest – caverns, rock paintings, engravings. It is infinite. My only wish was that the next 15 years would continue to be a journey of discovery. Now I don’t know what the future holds.”
Two arrested over massive Fontainebleau wildfire near Paris
France's interior minister said Monday that two people had been arrested in connection to a fast-moving wildfire that has so far scorched about 1,000 hectares of the Fontainebleau forest southeast of Paris. The fire prompted France to deploy two firefighting Canadair planes from the country's south as crews battled to contain the blaze, the first time such aircraft have been used in the greater Paris region.
Issued on: 13/07/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Catherine NORRIS TRENT
Cover image: Firefighting planes Canadair CL-415 fly near church of Noisy-sur-Ecole amid a wildfire affecting the area near Fontainebleau on July 13, 2026. © Benoit Tessier, Reuters03:31
France's interior minister on Monday said two people had been arrested in connection to a fire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris that has burnt more than 1,000 hectares.
The arrests were among a total of 59 made across the country for "deliberate or accidental arson", Laurent Nunez said on France2 television, as the country battles wildfires and swelters through its latest heatwave.
A fire raging in the historic and much-visited Fontainebleau forest south of Paris on Monday prompted evacuations of some residential neighborhoods and disrupted train and highway traffic.
The fire may have been “intentionally set”, Nunez had said earlier Monday.
“There were about ten spots where the fire started within a 1,000-metre radius, which suggests that it could have been set intentionally,” he told reporters during a visit to Noisy-sur-Ecole (Seine-et-Marne), near the site of the fire. “We are hopeful that we will be able to contain the fire today,” the minister added. However, “it will take several days or even several weeks to fully extinguish the fire”.
Firefighting aircraft battled to contain the fire for a second day, with the blaze forcing some residents from their homes as the region baked in the year's third heatwave.
01:51
The fire erupted late afternoon Sunday in the forest located about 60 kilometres (40 miles) southeast of the capital, a onetime royal hunting preserve that today is dotted with quiet villages, and quickly spread.
The rare forest fire in the north of the country had raced across 800 hectares – an area larger than Gibraltar – by early Monday, disturbing rail and highway traffic on a busy holiday travel weekend.
"I have never seen this before" in three decades, Didier Buguinet, a deputy mayor in Le Vaudoue, said of the flames raging on the edge of the village of some 750 inhabitants.
"We're going to weep for our forest," he said.
'It's a monster': FRANCE 24 speaks to resident evacuated due to the Fontainebleau fire
04:22
Authorities on Sunday rushed firefighting planes to help fight the flames, the first time such aircraft have been used in the greater Paris region.
"Two Canadair planes are preparing to scoop up water from the Seine" river, officials in the Seine-et-Marne region on the city's outskirts said on Monday on X.
The fire forced disruptions in the A6 motorway that leads out of Paris to the southeast and on Monday parts of the highway remained closed, according to Google Maps.
But the national railway service said it had repaired cables burnt by the fire on Sunday afternoon, allowing it to resume normal services for fast trains connecting the capital to the southeastern city of Lyon.
Latest heatwave
France is weathering its third heatwave in less than three months, with fires raging in several parts of the country over the past week.
It is the latest such deadly episode of extreme weather, whose increasing frequency in recent decades scientists have linked to man-made climate change.
Sophie Guiot showed AFP a picture of a water-dumping plane flying over her home.
"My parents in the south of the country had been worrying about fires, but it's here that it happened," she said.
The country recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths during the June heatwave, and 300 during the high temperatures in late May, according to official figures.
Since the start of the year, wildfires have scorched some 25,000 hectares of land in France – an area nearly as big as Edinburgh and twice as much as during the same period last year, director general of civil security Julien Marion said on Friday.
High temperatures were expected to continue until France's national public holiday on Tuesday, according to the Meteo-France national weather service.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and AP)
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