Around 800 firefighters are continuing for a third consecutive day to manage the blaze in Fontainebleau Forest southeast of Paris after authorities announced last night that they had brought the flames under control, though the fire has not been fully extinguished. The blaze has already consumed 20,500 dunams of the former royal forest that welcomes about 15 million visitors each year. Police reported the arrest of several suspects in connection with the ignition, including a volunteer firefighter who has confessed.

The detained firefighter, a 19-year-old with no prior criminal record, admitted to using a lighter and gasoline to set kindling alight, though his motive remains unclear. The French interior minister had already suggested two days earlier that the fire was started deliberately. Five additional suspects were arrested for causing other fires, and one of them confessed to starting another blaze by discarding a lit cigarette.

Local fire services issued a statement expressing deep astonishment at the volunteer firefighter's actions and described them as a betrayal. They confirmed his suspension and stated that proof of his responsibility would represent a profound violation of public trust and the core values of the firefighting profession.

Fire officials announced this morning that remaining operations will focus mainly on wetting operations to prevent smoldering embers in the soil, tree trunks, and fallen branches from reigniting. Crews will then begin reopening roads and releasing some personnel. The aerial firefighting fleet of Canadair planes and helicopters has already been reduced.

Fire services explained that because of the forest's peat soil, crews must remain deployed for some time to prevent the emergence of zombie fires, meaning blazes that do not fully extinguish but continue to burn slowly underground throughout the season within carbon-rich peat. Such fires can spread beneath the surface for days or weeks and reappear more than 100 meters from the original ignition point.

The famous Fontainebleau Forest, where the fire broke out this week, lies about 60 kilometers southeast of Paris and covers roughly 250,000 dunams. It features exceptional biodiversity and attracts more than 15 million visitors annually. The forest surrounds Fontainebleau Palace, which King Francis I transformed in the 16th century into a symbol of French power. The UNESCO World Heritage site served as a residence for French rulers from Francis I through Napoleon III and was especially favored by Napoleon Bonaparte. Flames reached close to the palace this week. The forest itself functioned for centuries as a royal hunting ground and later became a celebrated subject for Impressionist painters.

The fire forced authorities to close the A6 highway linking Paris to Lyon and southern France. Smaller fires in the region also disrupted high-speed rail services. This year is shaping up as a record one for wildfires in France, with 320,000 dunams already burned, exceeding the total area destroyed throughout 2025. The drought affecting parts of the country has likely contributed to the scale of the fires.

The fires in Fontainebleau and elsewhere in France are occurring amid a third heat wave striking the country and other parts of Europe within just a few weeks. The first wave hit western Europe before the official start of summer in late May, while the second, which was especially severe and broke records across the continent, occurred at the end of June. France is currently experiencing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius in the west and center, and forecasters expect the current wave to last until midweek.

In Italy, by contrast, a high-pressure system centered over Sardinia is expected to peak only on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures forecast to reach 44 degrees in inland Sardinia, 39 in Florence, and 38 in Rome. The heat wave in the country will also be accompanied by fine dust arriving from North Africa.

Extreme heat is meanwhile affecting parts of Japan, where temperatures in Tokyo reached 34 degrees yesterday. The stifling conditions are prompting many Japanese to break cultural codes, overcome embarrassment, and arrive at work in shorts, an unusual choice in a country that generally favors formal attire in offices. The relaxation of strict dress codes, especially for men, comes as Japanese companies reduce air-conditioning use because of high electricity costs linked to disruptions in oil supplies stemming from the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

One of the norm-breakers is Noboru Watanabe, a 50-year-old Tokyo municipal employee who yesterday skipped the suit and arrived at the office in a shirt and shorts. At least five other men in his office followed suit. Watanabe admitted he initially felt embarrassed to bare his legs at work but added that once the shorts are on, their comfort becomes obvious.

The initiative allowing simpler attire on hot days was announced last spring by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who cited forecasts of electricity supply challenges. The measure expands the earlier Cool Biz energy-saving campaign that encourages civil servants to forgo ties and jackets in summer, a program Koike first launched in 2005 while serving as environment minister. We encourage light clothing focused on comfort, including polo shirts, T-shirts, sneakers, and, depending on the role, shorts, she told reporters in April.

The governor's move has sparked some envy among other Tokyo workers employed in the private sector, such as 30-year-old Takayuki Deguchi, who works at a marketing firm that still requires suits. He said the ability to wear shorts, which helps regulate body temperature in extreme heat, represents a very flexible approach.

Nevertheless, the campaign has also prompted lively online discussions about whether shorts are appropriate office wear. Real-estate agent Sachi Koike, 52, said she has no problem with men skipping ties or jackets in summer but believes shorts go a step too far. I associate that with a day off, she explained. I simply do not think hairy legs convey a particularly professional appearance in the workplace.

Last year Japan experienced its hottest summer since records began in 1898. Because temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above have become so common, the meteorological service introduced an official term in April for such extreme events, calling them kokusho, or in English brutally hot days. Scientists note that human-caused climate change is making extreme weather phenomena more frequent, prolonged, and intense.