Share to ClassroomParis Fire Empties 900 Homes
A big forest fire has burned about 800 hectares near Paris. The fire is in the Fontainebleau forest, about 60 kilometres from the city. It started on Sunday afternoon. By Monday, firefighters had still not stopped it. About 900 homes had to be emptied. Around 400 firefighters fought the fire. Special planes that drop water came from the south of France to help. No houses burned down, and nobody was hurt.
The interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said the fire may have been started on purpose. He said it began in about ten different places at the same time. Two people have been arrested. Across France, many more people have been arrested this summer for starting fires, but reports of the number differ. The BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) said 59 people, and the Guardian newspaper said 44.
The fire came during very hot weather. The Paris area is in its third heatwave— a long period of very hot days— this year. The fire closed part of a big road and stopped fast trains, so travellers waited a long time. Because of the heat, three nuclear power stations also had to stop for a short time. Officials said the fire could take days or even weeks to put out.
