Major fire in Fontainebleau: more than 300 hectares of forest affected

Fontainebleau – 12 July 2026: A large-scale forest fire broke out on Sunday evening in the Forêt de Fontainebleau in Seine-et-Marne. According to emergency services, the fire had already affected more than 300 hectares of woodland shortly before 11 p.m. and was continuing to spread. The fire is located near the A6 motorway. Authorities consider the situation exceptional for the Île-de-France region.

About 400 firefighters were deployed to fight the blaze. Due to the high intensity of the fire, emergency services in Seine-et-Marne requested support from other parts of the country. Two firefighting aircraft were sent to the operational area from southern France. According to authorities, the use of such aircraft for a forest fire in Île-de-France has so far been unprecedented.

The fire service described the blaze as highly dynamic in the evening. Wind, drought and the accessibility of the terrain will be decisive factors in its further development. Late on Sunday evening, there was still no definitive figure for the area destroyed. Information on when the fire could be fully brought under control was also not initially disclosed.

The Fontainebleau forest is one of the largest continuous forest areas around Paris and is heavily visited for its natural areas, hiking trails and climbing areas. Since an interministerial decision of 13 April 2026, the affected forest massifs have been among the areas in Seine-et-Marne and Essonne officially classified as at risk of fire. The classification covers around 20,000 hectares in several massifs in the region.

The prefecture of Seine-et-Marne and the SDIS 77 fire and rescue service had already strengthened their preparations for the forest fire season in June. These include additional patrols, specialised units and closer cooperation with the state forestry service ONF. The reason is repeated smaller fire incidents and a persistently elevated risk caused by dry vegetation and summer heat.

For local residents and visitors, safety is now the priority. Emergency vehicles need unobstructed access routes, and remaining in the affected forest area could endanger firefighting operations. The cause of the fire was still unknown on Sunday evening. Investigations into the origin of the fire will probably only be possible once the operational situation permits it.

The fire in Fontainebleau shows that forest fires no longer affect only the Mediterranean region. Government authorities now classify Île-de-France as an area with a persistently increasing risk of forest fires. The current situation near the A6 presents local emergency services with an operation of a scale rarely seen so far.