French authorities are probing a volunteer firefighter for allegedly igniting a massive forest fire in the vicinity of Paris. Approximately six individuals are under interrogation regarding the cause of the Fontainebleau wildfire, which ravaged over 2,000 hectares of woodland in France, prompting around 1,000 residents to evacuate.
Initially, the 18-year-old volunteer firefighter admitted to starting the fire with a lighter and petrol, but later recanted his statement, as per Prosecutor Diane Ngomsik, as reported by the BBC. Another 18-year-old is also under formal investigation, with authorities assessing whether to press charges in connection with the blaze, according to BFMTV.
President Emmanuel Macron, while visiting the affected area, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards arsonists. Firefighters are still actively combating the fire, which commenced last Sunday but is currently contained. President Macron disclosed that about 10% of the Fontainebleau forest, spanning more than 22,000 hectares, had been scorched.
The state-owned forest, located south of Paris, houses the renowned Palace and Park of Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Fontainebleau tourism website cautions that the forest and surrounding areas remain closed to the public, urging people to limit travel and adhere to safety directives to facilitate emergency services and firefighting operations.
France has encountered a series of heatwaves this summer, contributing to nearly 11,000 fires. President Macron highlighted that this year has witnessed the highest number of fires in France since World War Two. Consequently, the primary north-south motorway, traversing parts of the forest, has been partially shut down post the fire outbreak.
Climate change-induced rising temperatures, water scarcity, and a surge in wildfires are increasingly prevalent worldwide, with Europe being the continent experiencing the most rapid warming, as per the Copernicus climate service. In Spain, at least 13 fatalities were reported due to wildfires engulfing the southern region of Andalusia.
Meanwhile, a significant wildfire in the Scottish Highlands has necessitated evacuations of residences and businesses in the Cairngorms National Park in the UK, where firefighters are persistently battling the blaze for the third consecutive day.