DIRECT. Incendies: les deux suspects qui ont reconnu leur implication dans les feux de Fontainebleau présentés à un juge

Two Suspects Presented to Judge Following Fontainebleau Forest Fires

Two 18-year-old men, who have admitted to their involvement in starting fires in the Fontainebleau forest, were presented to an investigating judge on Wednesday, July 15. According to Fontainebleau prosecutor Diane Ngomsik, the parquet has requested that both suspects be placed in pre-trial detention.

The two individuals, who have no connection to one another, include one student and one volunteer firefighter with no prior criminal record. Both were taken into custody following outbreaks of fire in the region on July 13.

The volunteer firefighter admitted to authorities that he ignited twigs using a lighter and gasoline in Arbonne-la-Forêt. The second suspect stated that he accidentally started a fire by discarding a cigarette near the Grand Parquet, located by the Faisanderie in Fontainebleau. These admissions follow a 48-hour period of intense firefighting efforts to contain the blazes that began on Sunday, July 12. As of Wednesday morning, approximately 800 firefighters remained on the scene to manage flare-ups.

Ongoing Investigations and Legal Proceedings

The legal response to the forest fires involves a broader investigation. Initially, seven individuals were placed in police custody. According to the prosecutor, two of those custodies were lifted due to a lack of conclusive evidence, leaving five people in custody as of Wednesday.

The investigation is being conducted as a flagrancy inquiry for the destruction of wood, forest, heath, scrub, or plantation by fire, which carries the potential for causing harm to persons. The case has been entrusted to the Paris Research Section (SR) in joint jurisdiction with the Research Brigade (BR).

Separately, authorities are investigating an additional fire that broke out on July 12 along the A6 motorway in Seine-et-Marne. Prosecutor Ngomsik noted that multiple theories are being explored, including the possibility of an accidental fire related to road maintenance work, as well as the potential for intentional origin. Two workers remain in custody in connection with that specific inquiry.

National Context: Climate Vulnerability and Forest Investment

The incidents in Fontainebleau occur against a backdrop of heightened environmental strain across France. Minister of the Ecological Transition Monique Barbut stated on July 15 that the government plans to launch a “major investment plan for the French forest.”

Addressing the ministry, Barbut remarked that the recent fires, specifically noting those in Fontainebleau and the Diois region, have highlighted the “great vulnerability” of forests to the impacts of climate change, including current heatwaves and drought conditions. The minister intends to convene forest stakeholders, companies, and financial backers to formalize this investment strategy.

Heightened Risk and Weather Conditions

Météo-France has issued warnings regarding the continued risk of forest fires as extreme temperatures persist. Nine departments, primarily in the south of France, were placed under a “high” risk level for forest fires for the day following the report, a number set to decrease to five by Friday.

Current weather data reflects the intensity of the heatwave:
* Extreme Temperatures: Saint-Côme-d’Olt (Aveyron) recorded temperatures as high as 39.6°C, while Montat (Lot) reached 39.1°C.
* High Temperatures Forecast: Future daily highs of 35°C are expected in Occitanie, the Rhône valley, Provence, and Corsica.
* Storm Alerts: While the orange alert for storms was lifted in Saône-et-Loire on Wednesday evening, the department remains under an orange alert for a heatwave. Fifteen other departments remain under orange storm alerts.

In addition to wildfire threats, severe weather has caused significant infrastructure damage. In the Aubenas basin (Ardèche), an afternoon storm characterized by hail the size of pétanque balls resulted in punctured roofs and damaged vehicles, according to local firefighters and the town hall.

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