On Thursday 16 July 2026, Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a ‘one-stop shop’. The President was on a visit to the Fontainebleau Forest, which has been hit by two since Sunday 12 July.
The flames have swept across nearly 2,000 hectares. This area accounts for around 10 per cent of the forest. The Head of State now wants to raise funds to ‘replant and rebuild’ this natural heritage.
Emmanuel Macron has called on the French public to contribute to this fundraising campaign. The funds are intended to support reforestation, the reconstruction of the affected areas and the improvement of forest protection against future fires.
Fontainebleau Forest: nearly 1,000 firefighters deployed
Emmanuel Macron met with firefighters, military personnel, forest rangers and volunteers working on the ground. Around 1,000 firefighters took part in the operations at the height of the crisis.
The Civil Protection Service has also deployed four Dash aircraft, two Canadair aircraft and several helicopters. The authorities had never before deployed such Aerial fire-fighting resources in Île-de-France. The emergency services have reported no casualties. However, nearly 1,000 residents had to leave their homes during the crisis.
The teams have contained and brought the fires under control. However, they will need to continue their work for several weeks. The peat and the nature of the soil may harbour pockets of fire beneath the surface, leading to further flare-ups.
Fontainebleau fire: court remands two suspects in custody
The courts have two 18-year-old men have been charged for arson. She has also remanded them in custody. Investigators are continuing their enquiries to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fires. The two suspects are presumed innocent.
Emmanuel Macron has called for a firm legal response to negligence and criminal acts. The President stated that the authorities would show “zero tolerance” towards those responsible for starting fires.
Wildfires in France: 35,000 hectares have already been burnt in 2026
The Chief Executive of the Civil Protection, Julien Marion, has painted a worrying picture of the situation across the country. France has seen nearly 11,000 fires since the start of 2026. By mid-July, the fires had affected around 35,000 hectares.
This area already exceeds the total recorded throughout the 2025 season. The authorities are therefore calling on the public to comply with restrictions on access to the mountains and to follow the safety guidelines.