Chilean law enforcement has apprehended an individual allegedly responsible for igniting one of the catastrophic wildfires that have claimed 21 lives and devastated entire communities across south-central Chile. The arrest occurred at dawn in Perquenco, located within the Araucania region, following investigations into simultaneously occurring blazes that erupted on Saturday across Biobio and Nuble regions.
Security Minister Luis Cordero disclosed that investigators seized five liters of liquid accelerant from the suspect, who is accused of deliberately setting fire to wheat fields using flammable materials. Authorities additionally discovered plastic containers containing incendiary substances in Concepcion, reinforcing suspicions of arson.
The infernos, propelled by intense winds and elevated temperatures, rapidly consumed coastal towns including Penco, Lirquen, and Punta de Parra, transforming vibrant neighborhoods into scorched landscapes of smoldering debris. Interior Minister Alvaro Elizande reported approximately 20,000 residents have sustained property damage, with roughly 800 homes completely destroyed.
While firefighters continue combating 35 active blazes across three regions, recent temperature declines have provided critical relief. Carlos Zulieta, a frontline firefighter in Florida, confirmed the flames are now advancing “more slowly” with reduced intensity.
The government has announced compensation ranging from $700 to $1,500 for victims as aid distribution commences in affected areas. Municipal crews and private enterprises are delivering essential supplies including portable toilets and generators to displaced families, some of whom remain camping amid their homes’ ruins.
This tragedy echoes February 2024’s devastating wildfires near Viña del Mar, where 138 perished in blazes later determined to have been started by emergency personnel. Chile continues confronting its vulnerability to both human-caused and natural wildfires during Southern Hemisphere summer months.