French interior minister says wildfire south of Paris may be result of arson

The battle by firefighters in France to bring under control a large wildfire raging in forests south of the country’s capital is entering its second day, the BBC writes.

The Fontainebleau forest blaze, described by officials as “virulent” and of “exceptional scale,” partially closed the country’s main north-south highway.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez has indicated the blaze may have been deliberately set, after officials said the fire had raced across 800 hectares in the forest about 60km south-east of Paris.

On Monday, Nunez said that two people had been arrested in connection with the Fontainbleau blaze, and 59 across the country in connection with fires.