Heat strains Forêt de Fontainebleau: ONF tightens protection and access controls

Fontainebleau – 02.07.2026: The Forêt de Fontainebleau is suffering from repeated heatwaves that weaken trees and increase the risk of vegetation fires. According to regional services, older oak stands and dry undergrowth are particularly affected. The Office national des forêts (ONF) has coordinated intensified patrols for several days, adjusted trail routing and is preparing preventive interventions to prevent the spread of potential fires.

Fontainebleau – 02.07.2026: Fire crews from the Seine-et-Marne department and forestry personnel reported several small fire outbreaks in recent weeks as well as an increase in dead patches in sensitive sections. Certain areas have been temporarily closed or access time-restricted. The prefecture is working with the ONF, the SDIS 77 emergency service and the regional agriculture and forestry directorate DRIAAF Île-de-France to map risk zones, keep access routes clear for emergency services and steer visitor flows so that spark creation and uncontrolled entry onto dry areas are reduced.

In addition to operational measures, the ONF is focusing on awareness-raising. Visitors are being informed of current prohibitions at car parks and main entrances—especially the strict ban on open fires and discarding cigarettes. Paths with heavy needle and leaf litter are checked more frequently; forest staff remove dry twigs at bottlenecks. Where safety requires, brittle trees along heavily used trails are felled or crown parts removed. For refuge areas of sensitive species, the forestry service also calls for consideration and for visitors to remain on marked paths.

According to Météo-France, the forest fire danger in Île-de-France rises significantly during prolonged dry periods. In Fontainebleau, wind can quickly transport embers through open sandy passages. Authorities point to nationwide government prevention campaigns that rely on simple behavioural rules: no fires in the forest, no barbecues at forest edges, do not park vehicles on dry grass and call emergency numbers promptly. The local rescue service is deploying additional patrols on hot days to detect nascent fires early.

In the long term, forestry administrations are examining how stands can adapt to climate stress. This includes site-adapted mixtures, promoting natural regeneration and monitoring heat- and drought-tolerant provenances within native tree species. Priority, however, remains immediate protection during the current season. Anyone visiting the Forêt de Fontainebleau in the coming weeks should check for possible closures in advance and follow the instructions of the ONF and the prefecture.