Fire inferno in the Fontainebleau forest: firefighters and volunteers mobilize to save dogs, horses and other animals from the flames

A dramatic environmental emergency is hitting the green heart of France. The historic forest of Fontainebleau, located in the department of Seine-et-Marne a short distance from Paris, has been attacked by a devastating forest fire which has already reduced over two thousand hectares of vegetation and centuries-old trees to ash.

To counter the advance of the fire front, the French authorities have deployed over 840 firefighters on the field, supported by massive interventions by air and land vehicles in an attempt to stem a meteorological situation made critical by the torrid temperatures of the summer of 2026. And those who paid the price, for the umpteenth time, were poor defenseless animals who found themselves surrounded by flames and often had no escape even if for the moment it is too early to draw a balance sheet.

The evacuation of the Grand Parquet horses and the arrival of the ADT

The rapidity with which thick smoke and ash enveloped the area forced the immediate evacuation of approximately one thousand residents and the numerous equestrian facilities in the area. The most delicate operations involved the Grand Parquet, one of the most prestigious equestrian centers in France, where dozens of horses were urgently loaded onto transport vans to be removed from the flames.

Belgian specialists from the Animal Disaster Team (ADT) intervened alongside the local rescuers. Having arrived on site to support the Seine-et-Marne authorities, the ADT volunteers took care of the transport of the horses and the subsequent search for wildlife injured or intoxicated by smoke within the wooded areas made safe by the firefighters.

Dogs safe in the cinema and sports hall

The heat and toxic fumes also affected the L’Arche d’Ury animal shelter, managed by Jean-Christophe. With the fire now close to the structure, the owner and a group of volunteers organized the emergency transfer of 80 dogs to the nearby municipality of Champagne-sur-Seine.

The town’s mayor responded by setting up two public structures to deal with the emergency: the Léo-Lagrange sports hall and the Jean-Gabin cinema were quickly emptied and transformed into temporary shelters. Between temporary cages and the constant support of citizens, the animals found a safe shelter away from the smoke, easing the anxiety of the owners who saw their four-legged companions escape a tragic end.