A major fire broke out on Sunday in Seine-et-Marne, alongside the A6 motorway between Noisy-sur-École and Archère-la-Forêt, in the Trois Pignons mountain range. The fire, which started on the motorway verge, quickly spread towards the forest, causing thick plumes of smoke visible from Paris and severely disrupting traffic.
Emergency services were quickly mobilised to deal with this emergency. Around forty firefighters from the Seine-et-Marne Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS77) were deployed to the scene, amidst an already strained situation due to a high volume of call-outs over the weekend. Their mission was to contain the flames and protect the surrounding wooded areas, particularly the Forest of Fontainebleau, which had already been weakened by the weather conditions.
Evacuations and major disruptions
Due to the spread of the fire, the Garenne and Defontaine estates, located in Achères-la-Forêt, have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. The town hall has posted the information on its page Facebook, urging residents to be vigilant and to avoid the area.
The A6 motorway has been temporarily closed in the area, causing major traffic jams and congestion. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and follow the instructions of the police to avoid any further risk.