The fire ravaging the Fontainebleau forest in Seine-et-Marne continued to spread Monday morning despite a major emergency response. More than 1.000 hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed, making this one of the largest fires ever recorded in the area. The flames remain particularly active on several fronts, fueled by adverse weather conditions. Firefighters are continuing their operations to try to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to inhabited areas.
Canadair water bombers deployed for the first time in Île-de-France
Faced with the scale of the blaze, two Canadair water bombers have been deployed. They will scoop water directly from the Seine River, between Chartrettes and Bois-le-Roi, before dropping it on the most threatened areas. This is a first for the Île-de-France region. Emergency services emphasize that Canadair aircraft have never before been used to fight a fire in the Fontainebleau forest. The planes are reinforcing an existing deployment of numerous firefighters, ground crews, and other aircraft. According to emergency services, the fire remains very intense on its leading edge and flanks, complicating firefighting operations.
Residents evacuated and alerts on phones
Several homes located near the disaster area were evacuated as a precaution. Authorities also activated the FR-Alert system to provide real-time updates to people in the affected areas. This emergency message urges residents to avoid the area, follow the instructions of the authorities, and not obstruct rescue operations.
Rail traffic remains disrupted
The consequences of the fire are also affecting transportation. Departing from the Gare de Lyon, delays of between 30 and 40 minutes were still being reported on several lines Monday morning. The previous day, the disruptions had been far more significant, with delays sometimes exceeding five hours. Thousands of travelers were stranded during the peak holiday travel period due to the disruption caused by the proximity of the flames.
A mobilization that could last
Authorities remain extremely vigilant as conditions continue to favor the spread of the fire. The resources deployed remain considerable, and operations are expected to continue as long as active fires threaten the forest and surrounding areas. Emergency services are urging the public to avoid all travel within the affected area to facilitate the work of the teams mobilized to combat this exceptional blaze.
