Fontainebleau major wildfire: around 800 hectares of forest damaged

Noisy-sur-École – July 13, 2026: A major forest fire broke out early Monday morning in the western part of the Fontainebleau forest, in the Seine-et-Marne department. According to fire authorities, around 800 hectares were affected by the flames shortly after midnight. The fire was still considered uncontrolled that morning. Emergency services are focusing on protecting residents, buildings and transport routes from further spread.

Around 400 firefighters battled the blaze overnight as it spread into forested areas near Noisy-sur-École and Achères-la-Forêt. Due to the scale of the fire and its rapid spread, personnel from other regions and aerial support were requested. Helicopters and aircraft deployed from southern France dropped extinguishing agents and wildfire retardant. Two Canadair firefighting aircraft were also mobilized for additional support.

Authorities closed sections of the A6 motorway, one of France’s main north-south transport corridors. The fire broke out near this route, causing significant congestion. High-speed rail services linking Paris and southeastern France were also affected. Travelers faced major delays on some sections while infrastructure inspections were carried out following the fire.

Fontainebleau sub-prefect Yannis Bouzar said firefighting operations could continue for another one to two weeks. Reinforcements from across the country are expected to support efforts to contain the wildfire. For the local command, securing the edges of the fire area and preventing the flames from spreading into residential areas remain key tasks. No reliable information about injuries or the cause of the fire was initially available.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was scheduled to visit the site on Monday morning, receive a briefing at the command center and meet representatives of local authorities in the affected area. Fire authorities warned of the dangers posed by smoke, heat and the unpredictability of the ongoing blaze. Nearby residents were asked to strictly follow emergency services’ instructions and keep access routes clear for emergency vehicles.

The Fontainebleau forest lies about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris and is one of the most important forested areas in the Île-de-France region. Its proximity to numerous municipalities, roads and railway lines makes organizing a large-scale response operation difficult. Based on the area affected so far and the scale of the aerial firefighting deployment, the current fire is considered one of the most serious wildfires the region has experienced in recent years.

The situation on July 13, 2026, was highly fluid. The figure of around 800 hectares reflected the situation identified that morning and may change as events develop. Whether the fire can be fully brought under control depends on the effectiveness of firefighting efforts, vegetation and local weather conditions. Authorities plan to release further information as soon as confirmed details become available.