Firefighting planes were deployed to the Paris region for the first time in history last weekend, as a wildfire of “exceptional scale” tore through the Fontainebleau forest just 40 miles south-east of the capital. The blaze, described by officials as “virulent”, forced the partial closure of the country’s main north-south motorway and disrupted train services during the first major summer getaway. It was the third heatwave to hit the Paris region this year, part of a summer of record-breaking temperatures across Europe that has also seen major wildfires in Spain and the United Kingdom.
The fire in the Fontainebleau forest had raced across 800 hectares by Monday morning and was still spreading, according to local officials. Two firefighting planes were rushed up from southern France, which is normally hotter and drier, along with two helicopters and an observation aircraft. The aim, said Eric Brocardi of France’s national federation of firefighters, was “to save lives and property”. Earlier, another fire had blocked a highway east of Paris and disrupted a high-speed train line, causing delays of up to six hours at the Gare de Lyon. The heatwave also forced the temporary shutdown of three nuclear power stations to prevent warm cooling water from being discharged into rivers already overheated, and organisers of the Tour de France shortened Sunday’s stage by 30 kilometres as temperatures neared 40°C.
“An explainer on the recent wildfires in Europe and the UK, their causes, and impact.”
The UK has not been spared. Emergency services declared a major incident in North Wales after a wildfire broke out near Sychnant Pass on Conwy Mountain, forcing residents to evacuate. Firefighters also tackled blazes in Greater Manchester, Somerset, and Dorset. On Tintwistle Moor in the Peak District, a fire burned an area the size of 350 football pitches and a major incident was declared. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service dealt with a large fire on Darwen Moor, and a blaze near Wood Street in London closed the Weaver Line overground railway for repairs. Natural England’s Fire Severity Index put much of England at “very high” risk of wildfire, with parts of southern England and the Midlands at “exceptional” risk.
These fires are a direct consequence of the heatwaves and dry conditions that have swept across Europe this summer. Spain suffered one of its deadliest wildfires, killing at least 13 people in Almeria. The UK, which is not accustomed to such intense fire seasons, has seen multiple blazes erupt simultaneously, straining fire services and disrupting everyday life.
Q: Why are wildfires happening in the UK and Europe? A: A series of intense heatwaves have created hot, dry conditions ideal for fires. France is experiencing its third heatwave this summer, and temperature records have broken across Europe. Natural England’s Fire Severity Index rates the risk as “very high” to “exceptional” in many areas.
Q: How big have the wildfires been? A: The Fontainebleau forest fire in France has burned 800 hectares. In the UK, the Tintwistle Moor fire scorched an area equivalent to 350 football pitches. Other fires, such as those in North Wales and Lancashire, have also been significant.
Q: What is being done to fight the fires? A: In France, firefighting planes, helicopters and observation aircraft have been deployed. In the UK, fire services are using drones, declaring major incidents, evacuating residents, and warning the public not to fly drones near fires. Crews continue to work around the clock.
What happens next depends on the weather. Heatwaves are expected to persist in some regions, keeping the risk of further wildfires high. Authorities urge the public to stay vigilant, avoid discarding cigarettes or glass in grassy areas, and follow local safety advice. The situation remains fluid.
