In brief
French authorities have placed a volunteer firefighter, 18, under formal investigation for suspected arson in the devastating Fontainebleau forest blaze. The fire, which erupted amid record heatwaves, has burned some 2,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of around 1,000 people. President Emmanuel Macron denounced the potential arsonists and pledged no leniency. The investigation follows the firefighter's initial confession, which he later retracted, and a second suspect was also identified. The incident underscores Europe's rising wildfire risk amid warming temperatures.
French prosecutors have formally investigated an 18‑year‑old volunteer firefighter for the suspected start of a wildfire in the historic Fontainebleau forest southwest of Paris. The blaze consumed more than 2,000 hectares of timber and forced the evacuation of close to 1,000 residents.
The fire, which began last Sunday, has now been contained but remains only partially extinguished. President Emmanuel Macron visited the site and condemned what he said would be an “unacceptable leniency” for anyone who might be a perpetrator.
According to prosecutor Diane Ngomsik, the firefighter first admitted setting fire to twigs with a lighter and petrol before backing out of the confession. A second 18‑year‑old male is also now under formal investigation, a procedural step that may lead to formal charges and a trial.
The fire partially closed France’s key north‑south motorway, underscoring the blaze’s disruptive reach. Macron noted that the forest’s 10% burned area marks one of the worst fire outbreaks since World War Two and highlighted that no casualties had been reported so far.
The Fontainebleau forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site and hosts the Palace and Park of Fontainebleau. The incident arrives amid a season that has seen nearly 11,000 fires recorded in France since the beginning of the year, part of a broader trend of heightened heatwaves in Europe driven by climate change.
