French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Fontainebleau forest on Thursday (July 16) after a major wildfire ravaged more than 2,000 hectares of woodland southeast of Paris.

The blaze, which began on Sunday (July 12) near the A6 motorway, spread rapidly through the historic forest during a period of extreme heat and dry conditions.

Around 900 to 1,000 people were evacuated as a precaution, and transport links including sections of the A6 motorway were disrupted.

Macron thanked emergency crews and reaffirmed government support for firefighting efforts, describing the incident as part of an exceptionally intense wildfire season in France.

The Fontainebleau forest, located about 60 kilometres southeast of Paris, is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and one of France's most visited natural sites. Experts warn that recovery of the burned areas could take decades.

"We are launching the effort to replant and rebuild this forest right now," Macron said.

Officials say more than 32,000 hectares have burned nationwide since the start of the year, exceeding the total area affected during the whole of 2025.

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Macron visits Fontainebleau after wildfire burns more than 2,000 hectares of forest

VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON VISITING FONTAINEBLEAU / MACRON GREETING FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE / SOUNDBITES OF MACRON ABOUT WILDFIRES / RECENT FOOTAGE OF WILDFIRE NEAR PARIS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE (JULY 16, 2026) (AGENCY POOL - Access all)

1. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON EXITING HIS CAR

2. VARIOUS OF MACRON GREETING FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE

3. MACRON SPEAKING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“We also had four Dash aircraft and two Canadairs deployed here, in addition to our helicopters, something we had never done before. Specifically, deploying Dash and Canadair aircraft like this was unprecedented in the history of the Ile-de-France region.”

FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE (JULY 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

5. FIREFIGHTING CANADAIR PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD

FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE (JULY 16, 2026) (AGENCY POOL - Access all)

6.(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“It is a treasure, both for public recreation and for biodiversity. We care deeply about this forest. Naturally, everything will be organised in the proper order, but we are launching the effort to replant and rebuild this forest right now.”

NOISY-SUR-ECOLE, FRANCE (JULY 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

7. FIREFIGHTERS SPRAYING FOREST GROUND WITH HOSES

8. FIRE BURNING BEFORE FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED

FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE (JULY 16, 2026) (AGENCY POOL - Access all)

9.(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“Let the message be clear: here, like everywhere in France, there will be zero tolerance, and we will be uncompromising, because lives are being put at risk, because quite simply, our national territory is under attack every time a fire breaks out.”

10. MACRON SPEAKING

11.(SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“At the same time, we know that the entirety of France faces a tough summer ahead. It will be difficult because we have already broken all records and we are only at mid-July, with the fire season still ahead of us based on typical patterns. We all need to remain united.”

12. VARIOUS OF MACRON LISTENING PREFECTURE STAFF IN FRONT OF WILDFIRE MAPS