2026 Chilean wildfires
| 2026 Chile wildfires | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2026 wildfire season | |
A Fire Information for Resource Management System image of how rapidly the Trinitarias Fire grew | |
| Date(s) | 16 January 2026 – present |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 75 |
| Burned area | 45,000 ha (110,000 acres) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 21+ |
| Non-fatal injuries | 75+ |
| Evacuated | 50,600+ |
| Structures destroyed | c.800 |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Under investigation |
On 16 January 2026, major wildfires began burning in the Biobío and Ñuble regions of Chile. They have burned over 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres) as of 21 January 2026. The wildfires have killed 21 people and forced over 50,000 to evacuate. A total of 75 fires were reported in the region, and 33 remain active as of 20 January 2026.
The towns of Lirquén and Penco, as well as some neighborhoods of Concepción, suffered severe damage as a result of the fire. 325 homes were destroyed, 300 in Biobío and 25 in Ñuble. Chilean president Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in Biobío and Ñuble and promised government support.
Background
The region had been experiencing extreme heat prior to the fires, with temperatures exceeding 38 °C (100 °F).[1] Immediately prior to the fires breaking out, temperatures reached 28 °C (82 °F) and winds blew at speeds of 40–50 kilometres per hour (25–31 mph). The adverse conditions also delayed firefighting and rescue efforts until the morning.[2]
Fires
A series of wildfires broke out across the regions of Biobío and Ñuble on 16 January 2026, causing at least 21 fatalities,[3][4][5] injuring 75 others and destroying at least 800 structures and multiple vehicles.[6][7] More than 50,600 people were forced to evacuate.[8] During firefighting efforts in Angol, a group of criminals attacked a fire engine.[9]
Aftermath
The fires destroyed much of the coastal town of Lirquén and parts of Penco, both part of the Concepción metropolitan area.[3] Eighteen fatalities were reported in Biobío, while another occurred in Ñuble.[10][3] More than 630 people were sheltering in nine active shelters, and 1,500 were left homeless.[11]
At least 61 people were injured in Biobío, and 14 in Ñuble, all of whom have been treated at medical facilities. 20,000 people suffered property damage and about 800 houses were destroyed.[12]
Authorities were also evaluating damage to about 140 homes in Ñuble. Concepción was threatened by advancing fires, and some structures were destroyed on the outskirts of the city.[13] The largest fire, Trinitarias, had burned more than 23-kilometre (14 mi) and threatened more than 3,000 houses and a gas plant.[14]
Drone footage showed six body bags on a road, a Coulson Aviation Boeing 737–300 putting out a fire and dozens of burned houses and vehicles.[15] A state of emergency was declared in the two regions by President Gabriel Boric.[16] Nearly 3,000 firefighters were deployed.[17] Authorities reported 75 wildfires in the region, and 33 remained active as of 20 January 2026.[3] The fires have burned over 45,000 acres as of 21 January 2026.[18]
The Chilean government's reaction to the fires has been criticized by various local politicians and mayors as slow. Rodrigo Vera, the mayor of Penco, said "from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours" and that his town was burning without government presence.[2]
On 21 January, Chile police arrested a man on suspicion of starting one of the wildfires. Security Minister Luis Cordero said the suspect used a liquid accelerant to start fires in a wheat field, with authorities seizing five liters of fuel from him. He was arrested at dawn in the town of Perquenco in Araucanía Region, south of Biobío.[12]
Compensation for victims will range from $700 to $1,500, according to a government statement.[12]
Individual fires
As of 25 January 2026 at 23:40 UTC (20:40 CLST (local time)).[18]
| Name | Area burned | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinitarias | 15,541 ha (38,400 acres) | Biobío | Active |
| Rancho Chico | 7,231 ha (17,870 acres) | Biobío | Active |
| Perales Biobío | 5,100 ha (13,000 acres) | Ñuble | Active |
| Rucahue Sur | 4,123 ha (10,190 acres) | Biobío | Active |
| San Lorenzo | 3,968 ha (9,810 acres) | Biobío | Active |
| Alboyanco | 1,945 ha (4,810 acres) | La Araucania | Active |
| Monte Negro | 1,500 ha (3,700 acres) | Ñuble | Active |
| Codihue | 856 ha (2,120 acres) | La Araucania | Active |
| Bolilche | 668.9 ha (1,653 acres) | La Araucania | Controlled |
| El Cardal | 666.9 ha (1,648 acres) | Ñuble | Controlled |
| San Cruz Pan Grande | 657 ha (1,620 acres) | La Araucania | Active |
| Rahuil Bajo | 500 ha (1,200 acres) | Ñuble | Active |
See also
References
- ^ "Fires Erupt in South-Central Chile – NASA Science". 21 January 2026. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ a b Leal, Christian (18 January 2026). "Así avanzó incendio de Penco, Tomé y Concepción en sólo 12 horas: critican pasividad del Gobierno". BioBioChile – La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Chile – Reporte de Situación N°1: Incendios Forestales (al 19 de enero, 15hrs CL) – Chile | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "🔴 En Vivo: Incendios Forestales Afectan a La Región del Biobío" [🔴 Live: Forest Fires Affect the Biobío Region] (in Spanish). CNN Chile. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Deadly Chile fires trigger state of catastrophe in Ñuble and Biobío regions". www.bbc.com. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Fotos: Así avanzó el incendio forestal en Penco, Lirquén y Concepción en menos de 20 horas" [Photos: This is how the forest fire progressed in Penco, Lirquén and Concepción in less than 20 hours] (in Spanish). Teletrece. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ @PiensaPresna (18 January 2026). "Chile Desgarador "el fuego ya pasó por encimas de nosotros" vehículos y casas incendiadas Gentileza Emergencias Penco Lirquén" [Chile Devastating "the fire has already passed over us" vehicles and houses burned Courtesy of Emergencias Penco Lirquén] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 January 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ "Chile declares emergency as wildfires kill at least 15". France 24. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Presidente Boric reporta ataque a un carro de Bomberos en medio del combate de incendios en Angol" [President Boric reports attack on a fire truck amid firefighting efforts in Angol] (in Spanish). CNN Chile. 19 January 2026. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Chilean president declares state of catastrophe as wildfires kill at least 18". The Guardian. 18 January 2026. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Chile fights wildfires that killed 19 and left 1,500 homeless". CTV News. 19 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Chile police arrest suspect over deadly wildfires". Insider Paper. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "At least 19 killed as wildfires sweep through towns in southern Chile". BNO News. 19 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ^ "Chile Wildfire: Penco In Flames As Fire Threatens Indura Gas Plant; Videos Show Apocalyptic Scenes Watch". Times Now. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Drone aerials of deadly Chile wildfires show body bags and widespread devastation". Associated Press. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ Villegas, Alexander (18 January 2026). "Chile declares state of catastrophe aswildfires force thousands to flee". Reuters. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Chile Wildfire Death Toll Rises to 16: What Sparked the Deadly Blaze in Biobío and Ñuble?". Times Now. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Situación actual y pronóstico de incendios" [Current situation and fire forecast]. CONAF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.