{"success":true,"data":{"id":"28dadad2-636d-429f-b6fa-0f3b38e8dc55","title":"Two arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting devastating wildfires near Paris","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium More More Thank you for regi...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Two arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting devastating wildfires near Paris\n\n## Ten points were discovered around the starting point of the fire, leading authorities to believe the blaze was intentional\n\n[Maira Butt](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/maira-butt)Tuesday 14 July 2026 13:58 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-wildfires-paris-fontainebleu-heatwave-b3014451.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nAt least 12 dead and dozens missing in Spain wildfire\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nAt least two people have been arrested on[suspicion of starting a fire that](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fire-fontainebleau-forest-france-b3013739.html) led to raging [wildfires](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/wildfires) in a town south of [Paris](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/paris).\n\nThe blaze started [in the Fontainebleu forest](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fire-fontainebleau-forest-france-b3013739.html)on Sunday with a second fire reported the next day.\n\nIt is being investigated as potentially deliberate after multiple starting points were identified within a small radius.\n\nAt least 900 people were forced to evacuate their homes as over 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres) of land was left scorched.\n\n“It is not under control,” French interior minister Laurent Nunez said late on Monday.\n\nHe explained that 59 people have been arrested across [France](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/france) on suspicion of starting fires across the country as it recovers from a brutal heatwave. Around half were adults and half minors, with some repeat offenders, he said.\n\nDramatic footage shows a Canadair water-dumping plane being used to scoop water from the River Seine in an effort to put out the fierce blaze.\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nA firefighter works to extinguish flames in the Fontainebleau forest during a wildfire, in Le Vaudoue, during a heatwave affecting large parts of France, July 13, 2026.(Reuters)\n\nAn investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident, as Mr Nunez told reporters on Monday: “There were around ten points where the fire started within a 1,000-metre radius, which suggests it may have been started deliberately.”\n\nFrench authorities estimate that around 32,000 hectares of land has been burned so far this year.\n\nThe wildfires have claimed the lives of at least 13 people so far, mostly foreign nationals according to authorities.\n\nIt has forced the closure of the A6 highway linking the capital with Lyon and the south, just 70km (40 miles) from Paris. Smaller fires in the area have also disrupted high-speed train services.\n\nA firefighting Canadair aircraft skims the surface of the Seine River while collecting water in Ivry-sur-Seine, to assist efforts against a wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest during a heatwave affecting large parts of the country, near Paris, France, July 14, 2026.(Reuters)\n\nIn Spain, where wildfires have also ravaged the landscape, Malcolm Timbrell, 70, told the BBC about the terrifying experience of seeing his home being burnt to the ground. His wife and 12 friends and neighbours are feared to have been killed.\n\n\"You'd never imagine it could happen,\" he said. \"And when it does, and you're the only survivor, then you're left in a situation of, 'What can I do?'\"\n\nMr Timbrell and his wife of 17 years, Annettee Kilgore, 69, lived in the village of Bédar, in Almeria province, and found their home on Channel 4’s _A Place in the Sun._\n\n\"She was such a happy, outgoing person. We have had an amazing life together - and now it's stopped.\"\n\n[Scientists](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/scientists) have warned that the climate crisis, caused in part by the burning of fossil fuels, is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.\n\n### More about\n\n## Join our commenting forum\n\nJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies\n\n### Most popular\n\n### Popular videos\n\n### Bulletin","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-wildfires-paris-fontainebleu-heatwave-b3014451.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-wildfires-paris-fontainebleu-heatwave-b3014451.html","author":"Maira Butt","author_name":"Maira Butt","published_at":"2026-07-14T12:58:50.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-14T12:58:50.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/14/11/2026-07-14T100015Z_1524099073_RC29DMAD912Y_RTRMADP_3_EUROPE-WEATHER-FRANCE-WILDFIRE.JPG","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":5,"word_count":813,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}