An exceptional wildfire is ravaging the western part of the Fontainebleau forest in Seine-et-Marne. Some 800 hectares were burned by flames on Sunday evening. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will travel to the site on Monday morning.
The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon near Noisy-sur-École along the A6 before spreading into the Fontainebleau forest. Four hundred firefighters are battling the flames, supported by two water bomber planes, a first in the Île-de-France region. Fifteen homes have been evacuated in Vaudoué.
Firefighters report that the blaze is not contained but are counting on cooler nighttime temperatures. Helicopters and planes have halted their rotations after dark. The A6 motorway remains closed and rail traffic is heavily disrupted.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will travel on Monday morning to the command post to assess the situation and meet local elected officials. Authorities urge caution as 37 departments remain under red heatwave alert.
