Fontainebleau forest reopens to public after July wildfire
Eighty percent of the nature reserve near Paris is accessible again, while authorities maintain closures in affected zones to manage safety risks and residual hotspots.
The Fontainebleau forest, located approximately 60 kilometres southeast of Paris, reopened to the public on Saturday following a wildfire that scorched around 2,000 hectares in July. While the majority of the nature reserve is once again accessible, a fifth of the area remains closed due to ongoing safety concerns.
The restricted zone covers roughly 4,000 hectares, with half of that area directly affected by the flames and the remainder serving as a buffer. Benoit Kaplan, a deputy prefect of the Seine-et-Marne department, stated that firefighters are working daily within the restricted area to extinguish remaining hotspots. Many burnt trees in the closed sections are still at risk of falling, necessitating the continued exclusion of the public.
Visitors, including rock climbers and walkers, have returned to the site to take advantage of the late summer weather. The forest is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with some climbers travelling from as far as Italy to access the famous boulders. Local authorities have urged caution, noting that the reopening brings an increased likelihood of visitors venturing near prohibited zones.
To prevent new fires in vegetation severely parched by drought, officials have prohibited barbecues and smoking. These measures come as France experiences a historically hot European summer, which has been marked by three successive heatwaves. The conditions have contributed to widespread wildfire risks across the region.
The July fire scorched approximately 10 percent of the former royal hunting ground. While the exact duration of the remaining closure is not yet specified, signs reading "Access Prohibited" mark the boundaries of the off-limits areas. Forest workers have warned that the temptation for visitors to enter the closed zones for curiosity or photography remains strong.
According to France 24 International, the reopening represents a significant return to normalcy for the area, though the threat of further fire remains elevated due to the ongoing dry conditions.
