Two suspected arson fires in Fontainebleau forest: 18-year-old arrested
French police have arrested two people suspected of deliberately starting two fires that ravaged more than 1,300 hectares in the historic Fontainebleau forest near Paris.
Two suspected arson fires in Fontainebleau forest: 18-year-old arrested
Two forest fires have devastated more than 1,300 hectares in the historic Fontainebleau massif, located approximately 60 kilometres south-east of Paris. Law enforcement placed two individuals in police custody, suspected of deliberately starting the fires, according to information from PM Online.
The largest fire broke out on Sunday. It destroyed nearly 1,200 hectares by Monday afternoon, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. A second fire started Monday afternoon and spread across approximately 100 additional hectares.
Authorities evacuated around 1,000 residents from Fontainebleau and neighbouring communes. This forest site, a former royal hunting ground, is designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve and contains several hamlets within its perimeter.
The flames spread rapidly under the effects of a heatwave, severely disrupting rail and road traffic. Firefighting efforts mobilised four Canadairs, two Danish aircraft and three helicopters. In total, 187 water drops had been carried out by Monday evening. Around 600 firefighters continued to battle the flames in relays at that time.
Among the two suspects arrested in connection with this case is an 18-year-old man with no criminal record. At the time of his arrest, his hands were covered in soot and he was in possession of matches.
The Interior Minister specified on television that 59 people had been arrested across French territory for "deliberate or accidental fire-setting", including the two suspects linked to the Fontainebleau fires.
France is currently experiencing its third heatwave in less than three months. Last week, other regions of the country were also affected by vegetation fires. According to official figures, the June heatwave caused more than 2,000 deaths, and that of late May caused 300 deaths.
Since the beginning of the year, fires have already burnt 25,000 hectares in France, double the area destroyed at the same time last year, according to figures reported on Friday by the director general of civil protection, Gilles Marion.
Source: Apollo