Santiago de Chile. Chilean authorities declared a red alert in the municipalities of Chiguayante and Hualqui in the southern Bíobío region due to a forest fire that affected that area today.
So far, no homes are in danger and no families have been ordered to evacuate, but the flames have already consumed more than 15 hectares of forest.
The fire broke out the day before and was fueled by hot winds typical of the country’s southern summer season.
As darkness fell, the fight against the fire subsided because the planes available locally lacked the necessary instruments to operate at night.
The team dealing with the incident this morning were supported by, among others, three ground brigades, two helicopters, one helicopter and a coordination aircraft from the company Forestal Arauco.
The whole country is moved by the tragedy that recently happened in a district of Viña del Mar, in which two people died, more than 60 were injured and hundreds of families lost their property.