Europe burns under third heat wave as suspected arson fire erupts near Paris landmark

Western Europe is experiencing its third heat wave in weeks, leading to major wildfires and significant casualties. In France, a large fire erupted in the Fontainebleau forest, near Paris, prompting the evacuation of 800 residents and the closure of the A6 highway. Authorities are investigating the blaze, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stating, “There were about 10 points where the fire started, within a radius of 1,000 meters, which means it may have been deliberate.” This fire is one of several across France, which has seen 320 square kilometers burned this year. Meanwhile, in Spain, at least 13 people died in a wildfire in Almería province, with 10 more missing. The extreme heat and dryness are exacerbating these fires, and a monitoring body, EuroMOMO, reported over 10,000 excess deaths across 27 European countries during a late June heat wave, predominantly among those aged 65 and over. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of these events to human-caused climate change.