Fontainebleau wildfire exceeds 2,000 hectares as six detained, two arson suspects confess
The Fontainebleau forest fire near Paris has scorched over 2,000 hectares as of July 14. Six people have been detained on suspicion of arson, with two suspects confessing. France has recorded 32,000 hectares burned nationwide this year.
A massive wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris continued to rage on July 14, with the burned area exceeding 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres). French prosecutors announced six people have been taken into judicial custody in connection with the blaze, and two suspects have reportedly confessed to arson.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the fire was "not under control" and noted that around ten points of origin were found within a 1,000-meter radius, suggesting the fire may have been deliberately set.
About 1,000 residents were evacuated, and the A6 highway linking Paris to Lyon and the south was partially closed. Across France, wildfires have burned 32,000 hectares so far this year. A total of 59 people have been arrested nationwide on suspicion of starting fires. In neighboring Spain, wildfires have also claimed lives, with a British survivor reporting his wife and 12 friends feared dead.