The blaze at Fontainebleau forest began late on Sunday afternoon and had burned about 800 hectares by Monday morning, according to local authorities. Officials described the blaze as “very virulent” and of “exceptional scale.” Around 400 firefighters have been deployed, supported during daylight hours by water-bombing aircraft and helicopters. About 15 homes were evacuated in the village of Le Vaudoué, while crews worked to protect other nearby communities. The fire also forced partial closures of the A6, France’s main north-south motorway, and disrupted high-speed rail services from Paris. France is enduring its third heatwave since May, with high temperatures and dry vegetation increasing wildfire risks. The crisis follows weeks of extreme heat across Europe, which has strained emergency services and raised concerns about an increasingly severe fire season.