More than 2,000 hectares of the Fontainebleau forest were burned during fires that started on July 12 and 13. The fires officially ended on August 29, leaving behind significant damage. In the most severely affected areas, tree trunks are blackened for several meters in height. The removal of dead trees has already begun, using a feller, a machine used to cut down trees. Thomas Legout, project leader for forest-society dialogue of the Office national des forêts (ONF), said that when the burned areas reopen, visitors will notice a "terrible aspect." The fire began in the Trois-Pignons forest on July 12 and a second fire was triggered in the Faisanderie area the next day. This was the first time the forest had experienced a fire of such magnitude. In the rocky Faisanderie area, dead trees with scorched foliage can be seen from a distance. On the forest trails, hikers still walk on a layer of soot, with a faint smell of burned material in some places. Since September 1, 90 percent of the forest has reopened to the public, but the most dangerous areas remain closed until at least the end of the year. This is to ensure safety, as dead or weakened trees can fall with even a light breeze, a risk that could increase with heavy rains or storms this autumn. The first priority is securing the 120 kilometers of forest roads in the fire area, explained Sophie David, head of the environment service of the ONF. Daily patrols by law enforcement, the ONF, and the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) are in place, and fines are issued to those who enter restricted zones. "There is no tolerance, because people put their lives in danger if they come, it's not a myth," she said. ONF staff have started inspecting trees individually. If they are dead or pose a risk, they will be marked with a red cross and removed. This also helps prevent the spread of harmful insects like scolytes, which thrive in weakened trees. The fire's impact is visible in blackened trunks and roots. What makes the Fontainebleau fire unique is that it burned through sandy soil containing organic matter, which is also flammable. This could have damaged the roots of the trees, disrupting their sap network and killing them. The ONF prefers natural regeneration, supported by the work of foresters. "We rely on the dynamics of the forest, we do not systematically plant immediately after a fire," explained Guillaume Larrière, head of communications for the ONF. In 2018, a four-hectare area burned in Fontainebleau, and over time, the vegetation returned. Some living trees provided seeds, gorse bushes grew as ground cover, and birches and pines recolonized the area. Natural regeneration is being observed in the burned Faisanderie area, where some green tufts are beginning to regrow and part of the wildlife is returning. The contrast between the orange-brown leaves, gray soil, and bright green new ferns is striking. In some places, young shoots of pines and oaks are emerging from the ground. "This shows that there is still a stock of seeds in the soil, it is rather reassuring," Sophie David noted. The future of the forest must also consider the impacts of climate change, which increases the risk of fires, heatwaves, and drought. The summer of 2026 demonstrated this, and its effects are visible in the Fontainebleau forest. Once natural regrowth begins, it will be possible to select the most suitable tree species to support, according to Alexandre Butin, deputy territorial head of the Fontainebleau massif. In areas where nothing grows, more resistant species, such as the pubescent oak, are planned.