French Firefighting Planes Scoop Seine Water for Blazes 30 Miles From Paris
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 17
French Firefighting Planes Scoop Seine Water for Blazes 30 Miles From Paris
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 17
Summary
This week, France deployed Canadair firefighting planes to scoop water from the Seine and drop it on forest fires in Fontainebleau, about 30 miles from Paris.
The mission marks a sharp shift from the long-standing focus on France’s Mediterranean south, where pilots typically drew water from the sea, nearby rivers and lakes.
Pilot Alexandre Jauffret, 59, said fires are no longer confined to the south, reflecting how extreme heat is pushing wildfire risk into regions once seen as too wet and lush to burn.
Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, and in France that has lengthened fire season into spring and fall while forcing firefighting strategy to expand nationwide.
As France invests in high-tech firefighting, is it overlooking the 90% of fires caused by humans?
As France's climate insurance costs skyrocket, are entire regions on the verge of becoming uninsurable?
2026 Fontainebleau Forest Wildfire: Record Heat, Arson, and the Battle to Save a UNESCO Biosphere
Overview
As of July 17, 2026, the historic Fontainebleau forest near Paris is facing major wildfires, fueled by the region’s third intense heatwave of the summer. With temperatures soaring above 40°C, extreme weather has turned the forest into a powder keg, making it highly vulnerable to ignition. While the heatwave is starting to subside and red alert warnings are being lifted, the damage is already severe, with forest fires consuming 32,000 hectares nationwide—surpassing last year’s total. This crisis highlights how escalating heatwaves and dry conditions are increasing wildfire risks and threatening France’s natural heritage.