Planes sent to deal with wildfires of ‘extraordinary size’ near Paris

Two firefighting planes were rushed to the Paris region to deal with a large wildfire south of the French capital.

The Fontainebleau forest fire, described by authorities as “severe” and of “exceptional size”, has blocked part of the country’s main north-south highway and disrupted traffic on the first weekend of the summer holiday.

By Monday morning, officials said the blaze had reached 800 hectares and was still spreading in a forest about 40 miles (60 km) southeast of the city of Paris.

The Paris area is suffering from a heat wave for the third time this year in a summer that has seen record temperatures in several European countries.

Eric Brocardi of the National Federation of French Fire Fighters said it was the first time firefighting planes from the dry and hot south of the country had been sent to the Paris region.

Agence France Presse reported that two firefighting helicopters and an observation plane were deployed.

“The aim is to save human life and property,” they said.