Macron pledges ‘zero tolerance’ for arson
French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged “zero tolerance” for arson after wildfires scorched thousands of hectares in France, including in a historic forest near Paris.
Dozens of people have been arrested across the country for starting fires deliberately or by accident as France has sweltered through multiple intense heatwaves since May that have fueled dry conditions.
Around 35,000 hectares (nearly 86,500 acres) have been impacted by fires, more than during the entire 2025 fire season, according to authorities.
France “has never faced so many outbreaks of fire across the country since the end of World War II,” Macron said during a visit to the Fontainebleau forest near Paris that has seen more than 2,000 hectares scorched since July 5.
