NOISY-SUR-ECOLE, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday pledged “zero tolerance” for arson after wildfires scorched thousands of hectares in France, including in a historic forest near Paris.

Dozens of people have been arrested across the country for starting fires deliberately or by accident as France has sweltered through multiple intense heatwaves since May that have fuelled dry conditions.

Around 35,000 hectares (nearly 86,500 acres) have been impacted by fires — more than during the entire 2025 fire season, according to authorities.