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Wildfire Rages in Fontainebleau Forest Near Paris

Wildfire Rages in Fontainebleau Forest Near Paris

A wildfire described as 'exceptional scale' broke out in the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris on Sunday, burning more than 800 hectares and forcing evacuations.

Over 400 firefighters worked through the night, and water-bombing planes were dispatched from southern France for the first time to combat a blaze in the Île-de-France region.

The fire disrupted train services and closed highways on a major holiday weekend, while a heatwave gripped western Europe.

Authorities warned that the fire risk remained extreme amid soaring temperatures.

Fontainebleau Forest
Painting by Claude Monet
Paris
Capital and most populous city in France
France
Country in Western Europe and other continents (through its overseas territories in America, Africa and Oceania)
Île-de-France
Administrative region of France