More than 400 firefighters worked through the night to contain a major wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest south of Paris, as France battled another day of extreme heat and dangerous fire conditions.
The blaze broke out near the historic forest, home to the Palace of Fontainebleau, one of France’s most famous royal residences. By midnight, the fire had consumed more than 800 hectares (1,980 acres), driven by strong, hot winds.
Authorities deployed two Canadair waterbombing aircraft on Monday to help ground crews contain the flames.
The wildfire forced the closure of the A6 motorway, a major route connecting Paris with Lyon and southern France, while several smaller fires in the region also disrupted high-speed rail services.
In an update on X, the French fire service said “The fight continues today.”
Residents have also been warned that the firefighting aircraft will be drawing water from the River Seine, which flows through central Paris, as efforts continue to bring the blaze under control.