Yes. French authorities have arrested dozens of people on suspicion of arson (deliberate or accidental) in connection with the ongoing wildfires.
As of late July 2026 (reports around July 27), officials stated that 162 people had been arrested since July 6 on suspicion of involvement in wildfire-related arson. Earlier in mid-July, the figure stood at 59 arrests nationwide (including minors), with at least two specifically linked to the Fontainebleau forest fire near Paris.
Interior Minister statements (including from Sébastien Lecornu and Laurent Nuñez) and government posts have emphasized that security forces are actively pursuing arsonists, noting that deliberately starting fires is a serious crime punishable by significant prison time. Not every fire is attributed to arson—many stem from human carelessness (e.g., discarded cigarettes) amid extreme heat, drought, and dry conditions—but authorities have repeatedly highlighted deliberate starts as a factor in the severe season, which has included major blazes such as the large one in the Gironde region near Bordeaux (forcing large-scale evacuations).
These arrests are part of a broader response to one of France’s most intense recent wildfire seasons. Figures can evolve with ongoing investigations.