2023 Chile wildfires

The 2023 Chile wildfire season is a series of wildfires burning in the South American country of Chile. In early February, a large wildfire outbreak of at least 231 individual fires, several dozen of them 'red alert fires', burned a total of almost 30,974,700 acres (12,535,000 hectares) and killed 24 people, causing the government to declare a state of emergency in multiple regions of the country.

2023 Chile wildfires
Satellite image of the fires, captured by the MODIS, on 3 February 2023
Location
Statistics
Total fires231+[1]
Total area30,974,700 acres (125,350 km2)[1][2]
Date(s)January 30, 2023–present
CauseHeatwaves, drought, suspected arson
Buildings destroyed5569+
Deaths24[3][1]
Non-fatal injuries2180

In Chile's modern history, this is the worst year in terms of hectares burned, surpassing the 2017 Chile wildfires.[4]

Wildfire formation on 3 February 2023 captured by GOES-16
Color satellite image of 2023 Chile wildfire between 1 to 5 Feb 2023

Background
Wide view of forest fire in Boyén from intersection of Zafiro street with Camino Nuevo, in Villa Quilmo and Villa Río Chillán, in the city of Chillán
Main article: Drought in Chile

Chile has been suffering from a megadrought since 2010 – the worst for a thousand years.[5][6] These drought conditions exacerbate summer fires because the vegetation becomes more flammable.[7]

Since 30 January 2023, the Ñuble region has maintained a preventive early warning due to the threat of forest fires as a result of high temperatures.[8] The fires coincided with an unprecedented heat wave in the south of the country, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in southern areas.[9][10]

Cause

René Garreaud from the University of Chile said the extremely high temperatures are driven by warm, naturally-recurring Puelche winds blowing from the east, superimposed on a warmer climate.[11] The interior minister, Manuel Monsalve, confirmed that 17 people had been arrested for possibly starting fires by such activities as welding or burning wool.[12]

Impacts

Casualties

The Chilean government has reported at least 26 fatalities from the February wildfire outbreak, at least 11 of them in the town of Santa Juana in Biobío. Two of the other fatalities occurred when an emergency services helicopter crashed on 3 February, killing its pilot and a mechanic, and a third occurred when a firefighter was struck by a truck while working an incident.[13][14]

Political

In February, Chile's interior ministry declared states of emergency in three regions (first-level administrative divisions): La Araucanía, Biobío, and Ñuble.[13] Chilean President Gabriel Boric requested aid from neighboring countries Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.[15]

Damage

At least 800 homes have been destroyed by the fires, according to the Chilean government.[16] Almost 300,000 hectares have already burnt in flames in the regions of Maule, Ñuble, Biobío and Auracanía.[17] As per the report from Health Minister Ximena Aguilera, Air quality in the affected areas has significantly deteriorated due to the smoke from the fires.[12] On 7 February 2023, smoke from the fires drifted over the capital, Santiago. Chile's massive pulp and paper company CMPC confirmed that over 24,700 acres (10,000 hectares) of its plantations have been affected by the fires, some of its processing plants operations had been halted.[12]

Firefighting

5,600 firefighters and volunteers are fighting against fires across multiple regions, a DC-10 air tanker from the United States arrived in the country to join the firefighters against. The craft is capable of dropping 36,000 liters of water. In Chile, paid, professional firefighters called "brigadistas" concentrate on forest fires while the rest are all volunteers, including those who fight city blazes.[18]

Many countries across the world are helping Chile to fight against wildfire.[19]

Traffic congestion for the forest fire in Villa Jerusalem, in Camino Nuevo street
  •  Argentina: Sent 40 brigade members, 15 trucks and a helicopter.
  •  Brazil: Logistical support through brigade members.
  •  Colombia: sent a plane and a contingent to put out the forest fires.
  •  Ecuador: Logistical support through brigade members.
  •  Spain: The Government of Spain sent an A330 plane and 50 brigade members.
  •  United States: Financial support of 50 thousand dollars.
  •  Mexico: Two military planes with about 300 volunteers
  •  Peru: Several helicopters to fight fires.
  •  Venezuela: Sent 60 brigade members.

Government reaction
Vehicle congestion on Route N-55 (Road to Pinto) due to forest fire in the Boyén sector of the Chillán commune, Ñuble Region, Chile
  • President Gabriel Borić declared a national emergency, addressing the nation: "The protection of families is our priority. We are working in coordination with local and national authorities to fight the forest fires that affect the Maule, Ñuble, Biobío and La Araucanía regions."[20]
  • Interior Minister Carolina Tohá announced that the government had declared a catastrophe in the Biobío region, joining its neighboring Ñuble region, which President Gabriel Boric announced Thursday night, allowing the deployment of soldiers and additional resources.[21]
  • Government spokesperson Camila Vallejo called on the private world to continue collaborating in the catastrophic situation resulting from the fires that are taking place in the Ñuble, Bío Bío, and La Araucanía regions.[22]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to February 2023 Chile wildfires.
  1. "Firefighters battle dozens of wildfires in Chile, death toll at 22". Reuters. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  2. "At least 24 dead in Chile as wildfires spread, driving many to flee for safety". Reuters. 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. SENAPRED (4 February 2023). "Consolidado de incendios forestales relevantes". Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. "Chile firefighters battle blazes amid warning that wildfires could get worse". Reuters. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  5. Fires Blaze Through South-Central Chile, NASA, 3 February 2023
  6. René D. Garreaud; Juan P. Boisier; Roberto Rondanelli; Aldo Montecinos; Hector H. Sepúlveda; Daniel Veloso-Aguila (2 July 2019), "The Central Chile Mega Drought (2010–2018)", International Journal of Climatology, 40 (1): 421–439, doi:10.1002/joc.6219, S2CID 198413538
  7. Mauro E. González; Susana Gómez-González; Antonio Lara; René Garreaud; Ignacio Díaz-Hormazábal (20 August 2018), "The 2010–2015 Megadrought and its influence on the fire regime in central and south-central Chile", Ecosphere, 9 (8): e02300, doi:10.1002/ecs2.2300, S2CID 91547530
  8. "Ñuble: incendios forestales en Chillán, Quillón y Quirihue arrasan con más de 740 hectáreas". Radio Biobío. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. "Chile wildfires spread as death toll rises". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. "Chile's president urges unity amid battle to contain fatal fires". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  11. Dinneen, James (7 February 2023). "Wildfires burning in Chile are among the deadliest in country's record". newscientist. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  12. "Chile heat wave could further fan the flames of deadly wildfires". reuters. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  13. "Firefighters battle dozens of wildfires in Chile, death toll at 22". Reuters. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  14. "13 dead in Chile amid struggle to contain raging wildfires". AP News. 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  15. Zerpa, Fabiola (4 February 2023). "Chile Widens Wildfire Emergency as Death Toll Climbs to 16". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  16. Torres, Javier; Schwarze, Pedro (5 February 2023). "Chile forest fire toll rises, hundreds left homeless". Phys.org. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  17. "Chile forest fires: Heatwave puts new regions at risk". bbc.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  18. Rojas, Pablo (7 February 2023). "New areas under threat as Chile fires rage and mercury rises". newscientist. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  19. Riquelme, Javiera (5 February 2023). "Apoyo logístico y monetario: Los detalles de la cooperación internacional que comienza a llegar esta noche por incendios". Emol. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  20. "Boric habla de incendios en zona centro-sur desde sus vacaciones: "Dispondremos de todos los recursos"". Radio Biobío. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  21. "Chile widens state of emergency as raging wildfires leave at least 13 dead". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  22. ""No es sólo tarea del Estado": Ministra Vallejo pide colaboración a privados en incendios forestales". Radio Biobío. 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
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