How Heat and a Megadrought Primed Chile for Devastating Wildfires
Fire seasons have become longer and more threatening since record-breaking blazes in 2017.
Mirtza Aguilera, right, and her daughter embrace in front of their home in Tomé, Chile, on Jan. 19, 2026.
Photographer: Javier Torres/AP PhotoWildfires in south-central Chile have torn through more than 62,000 hectares (153,000 acres) — an area roughly the size of Chicago — and burned entire communities, claiming 20 lives. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes. President Gabriel Boric and President-elect José Antonio Kast visited the affected region on Wednesday, and as of Thursday, there were still 18 uncontrolled blazes.
Chileans are now confronting a tragedy that feels both devastating and increasingly familiar. Less than a decade ago, such catastrophic fires barely registered in the national consciousness. Today they are a looming threat during the Southern Hemisphere summer. The current fire season isn’t even near its end.