Nearly 40,000 hectares destroyed by fires since the start of the year

France – 20 July 2026: Forest and vegetation fires have destroyed nearly 40,000 hectares in France since the start of the year, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. The area already exceeds the total figure for 2025. On Monday, the minister described an exceptionally challenging situation for emergency services, which had to respond to several fire sites at the same time.

The toll illustrates how early and intensely the 2026 fire season has begun. As recently as early July, the government had reported around 8,700 hectares burned and approximately 7,000 recorded fire outbreaks. A few days later, following the major forest fire near Fontainebleau, the Gendarmerie reported nearly 32,000 hectares burned and almost 10,000 vegetation fires across the country.

Recent attention has focused particularly on fires in various regions, including the major blaze in the Forest of Fontainebleau in Seine-et-Marne. According to the Gendarmerie, the fire destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of forest there. Around 900 residents of Achères-la-Forêt and Le Vaudoue were moved to safety as a precaution. The investigation into the cause of the fire was transferred to the Fontainebleau public prosecutor’s office.

Nunez also stated that 111 people had been arrested nationwide in connection with fires since the beginning of the year. However, the figure does not indicate how many fires were deliberately started or how many cases will result in convictions. Investigations into individual fires are conducted by the police, Gendarmerie and judicial authorities.

In early July, the government had already convened an interministerial crisis meeting in Marseille. High temperatures, dry vegetation and wind are increasing the risk of rapid fire spread in many areas. The Interior Ministry and civil protection authorities are relying on the deployment of firefighters, aircraft and reinforcement units, while also stepping up prevention efforts in at-risk regions.

According to the Interior Ministry, most forest and vegetation fires are caused by human behavior and are fundamentally preventable. Open fires, burning garden waste, sparks from work and carelessly discarded cigarettes can be enough to start a fire in dry conditions. For property owners, the legally required removal of highly flammable vegetation remains an important protective measure.

The newly reported total area shows that the impact is not confined to the traditional Mediterranean region. The fire near Fontainebleau demonstrated that regions north of Paris can also be affected by major forest fires. In the coming weeks, the key question will be whether heat, drought and wind continue to encourage the spread of further fires.