Eighteen years old.
That is the age of the volunteer firefighter now under formal investigation.
Suspected of starting a fire in the woods south of Paris.
It isn’t just him. At least six people have been questioned about the Fontainebleau inferno. It has scorched over 2,000 hectares — roughly 5,000 for those who count in acres — and forced about 1,00 residents out of their homes.
The fire is contained. Mostly. Not extinguished.
President Emmanuel Macron visited on Thursday. His message was stark. No leniency. Not for arsonists.
He pointed out a grim statistic. France hasn’t seen this many fires since World War II.
And that makes sense. Heatwaves have gripped Europe. The country has logged nearly 11,00 blazes this year alone.
The teen in question admitted to the prosecutor, Diane Ngomsik, that he had used a lighter and petrol to burn some twigs.
Then he took it back.
Retracted the confession.
Still, BFMTV reported another 18-year-old man has also been placed under flagrante délit — formal investigation. It’s a procedural step. One that leads to charges. Then trials.
The chaos disrupted the north-south motorway, partially shutting down traffic since Sunday.
“10% of the forest is gone,” Macron noted.
No victims. So far. He hailed that fact.
It doesn’t soften the blow. Fontainebleau isn’t just trees. It houses the Palace and Park. A UNESCO World Heritage site since ’81.
Who hurts history?
The heat isn’t letting up. Neither is the smoke.
