Major fire rages in Fontainebleau forest near Paris

French officials rushed two firefighting planes to the Paris region Sunday, after a fire erupted south of the French capital, blocking a key highway during one of the busiest summer travel weekends. The fire, which the local fire service described as "very virulent", began late afternoon in the Fontainebleau forest about 60 kilometres south-east of the capital.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that forest fires had already consumed 17,000 hectares. Once the figures had all been tallied, that would come to 25,000 hectares -- "twice as much as the same period" in 2025, he added.