French authorities confirmed Tuesday that two major fires in the Fontainebleau forest, which consumed over 2,000 hectares since Sunday, are now “fixed.” While the fires are no longer spreading, the situation remains active as crews continue to monitor the area. Six individuals were placed in custody as part of an ongoing investigation into the origins of the blazes, including a volunteer firefighter who admitted to igniting the fire, prompting a formal suspension from the local fire service.
Containment Status in the Fontainebleau Forest
As of Tuesday evening, the two primary fires that have ravaged the Fontainebleau massif are officially classified as “fixed,” according to the Prefect of Seine-et-Marne. This designation signifies that the flames are no longer progressing, though the fires are not yet extinguished. The forest, which covers 25,000 hectares, saw more than 2,000 hectares consumed by the flames. The blaze originated from two distinct centers: the primary fire, which began Saturday between Le Vaudoué and Noisy-sur-École, and a second fire that appeared Monday afternoon in the immediate vicinity of Fontainebleau.
The forest’s composition, characterized by numerous resinous trees and a sandy soil that retains water poorly, made the region particularly vulnerable to the heatwave. Additionally, the presence of peat bogs has created a risk of fires smoldering underground despite appearing extinguished on the surface. Despite the challenges, the work of 850 firefighters—supported by 200 ground vehicles, four Canadair aircraft, two Dash planes, and three water-bombing helicopters—eventually turned the tide.
Investigations and Custodial Status
The investigation into the origins of the fires has led to the detention of six individuals. Among them, a volunteer firefighter confessed to starting a blaze by igniting twigs with a lighter and gasoline. Another suspect admitted to accidentally setting the fire by throwing his cigarette at a separate location, according to a statement from the prosecutor of the Republic of Fontainebleau, Diane Ngomsik.
The Service départemental d’incendie et de secours (Sdis) of Seine-et-Marne reacted sharply to the firefighter’s confession, which it described as a “betrayal.” In a statement consulted by Le Parisien, the Sdis 77 expressed its deepest consternation in the face of this situation of exceptional gravity and announced the suspension of the volunteer. The agency stated:
Prosecutor Diane Ngomsik is also overseeing the inquiry into other potential causes. While she did not explicitly confirm reports that two construction workers were among those in custody for using spark-generating tools near the A6 motorway, she indicated that the hypothesis of an accidental fire linked to work in the immediate vicinity of the A6 is currently being studied by investigators.
Operational Challenges and Regional Updates
The scale of the emergency required a massive mobilization. Notably, the operation required the intervention of Canadair aircraft, which were utilized for the first time in the Ile-de-France region. The fire was previously described as having an “exceptional scale,” with ten fire starts occurring almost simultaneously in different parts of the forest, which initially led officials to prioritize the theory of arson.
Elsewhere, the prefecture of the Drôme department announced that the fire in the Justin massif “no longer progresses.” Officials noted that while the fire is not yet considered fully fixed, “occasional flare-ups” remain possible and numerous “hot spots” must be treated.
Looking ahead, Météo-France indicated that weather conditions are expected to shift. The mass of very hot air that has been stagnating over the country for several days will begin to regress from the west. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, no French department will remain under a red heatwave alert, although temperatures are expected to remain very high across a large part of the country.
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