Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / AFP via Getty Images
A major wildfire in the historic Fontainebleau forest south of Paris has led to the evacuation of some residential areas, disrupted train services and brought highway traffic to a halt.
The Fontainebleau forest fire is unusual for its proximity to the French capital, about 70 kilometres (42 miles). The region hosts the Fontainebleau Chateau, favoured by Napoleon and is popular with visitors from Paris and beyond, News.Az reports, citing The Independent.
Two water-dumping planes were deployed over the area along with hundreds of firefighters, regional fire service spokesperson Paul Laurain told public broadcaster France-Info.
Trains to and from the bustling Gare de Lyon train station were disrupted late Sunday but were returning to normal Monday morning. A section of the busy A6 highway leading southeast of Paris was shut down because of fire risk.
Large fires in southern France have already scorched thousands of hectares (acres) since last week, disrupting the Tour de France cycling race and stretching firefighting resources.
France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave of the summer, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit ) across western and central areas and around 37 C (98 F) in Paris.
The blaze was among several wildfires in western Europe, which is under its third red-alert heat wave this year.