Waterbombing aircraft skimmed the river Seine on July 14, 2026, as firefighters struggled to contain a forest blaze south of Paris that has been raging into a third day. The fire, which started on July 12, has been fueled by a spreading heatwave that has left large parts of Europe primed for more wildfires.
According to the French meteorological service Météo-France, temperatures in the Paris region reached 38°C on July 14, with no significant rainfall expected in the coming days. The fire has burned approximately 500 hectares of forest near the town of Fontainebleau, a popular tourist destination about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris. No casualties have been reported, but several homes have been evacuated as a precaution.
In Italy, authorities are bracing for temperatures of up to 44°C in parts of the country, particularly in the central and southern regions, including Rome and Sicily. The Italian health ministry has issued red alerts for 12 cities, warning of extreme heat risks, especially for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. The heatwave is expected to peak on July 16, with temperatures remaining high through the weekend.
The heatwave has also affected other parts of Europe, including Spain, where temperatures have exceeded 40°C in several areas, and Germany, where authorities have warned of increased wildfire risk. Climate scientists have linked the intensity and frequency of such heatwaves to global warming, with the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service reporting that June 2026 was the hottest June on record globally.
Firefighting efforts in France have been supported by waterbombing aircraft, including Canadair planes, which have been scooping water from the Seine River to douse the flames. The French interior ministry has deployed additional firefighters from other regions to assist, bringing the total number of personnel to over 1,000. The fire is not yet under control, but officials are hopeful that a slight drop in temperatures forecast for July 16 may aid containment efforts.
