The famous Fontainebleau forest south of the French capital was hit by a fire that spread on an 'exceptional scale' overnight from Sunday to Monday, as the country experiences its second heatwave this year.

Columns of smoke were seen rising above the forest 20 kilometers away, while fire trucks made their way to the fire sites.

Farmers joined the firefighting efforts by mounting water tanks on their tractors.

Two Dash aircraft were sent from the south of France to help control the fire, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez was heading to Fontainebleau on Monday. The town, about 50 kilometers from Paris, is known for its royal castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

'This is the first time such mechanisms have been used in the capital region,' said Eric Brocardi, spokesman for the National Federation of Firefighters.

ALERT - Authorities report a fire of 'exceptional' scale underway south of Paris. The #Fontainebleau forest is on fire, with more than 300 hectares already burned in Seine-et-Marne. For the first time in Île-de-France, water bomber planes have been… pic.twitter.com/YSbHJQv8XI

— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) July 12, 2026

Two helicopters were used to extinguish the fires, along with a ground reconnaissance aircraft, while 400 firefighters took part in the efforts.

The fire caused traffic to be halted on part of the A6 highway, the main artery leading to southeastern France, which crosses the forest.

The fire, which started on Sunday, had covered about 800 hectares by midnight, according to firefighters in the Seine-et-Marne department where the forest is located.

About 15 homes were evacuated, while firefighters were required to protect other homes late in the evening.

'Without the aircraft, it would have been necessary to evacuate the villages of Noisy-sur-École and Vaudoy,' explained Colonel Olivier Comptat, who is leading the operations.

France, and especially the Paris region, has been experiencing a scorching heatwave for days, increasing the risk of fires.