A fire that has been raging in the Fontainebleau forest, in the south of the Paris region, is of "exceptional magnitude". Photo: Franck Desprez / SDIS 77 / AFP / Lehtikuva
International news
A wildfire burned about 800 hectares of Fontainebleau forest southeast of Paris by Monday, forcing residents from their homes, closing roads and disrupting rail services as crews worked to stop the flames during France’s third heatwave of the year.
French authorities sent water-bombing aircraft from the south of the country to the Paris region for the first time.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said investigators were examining whether someone started the fire deliberately after crews identified about 10 ignition points within a one-kilometre area.
