Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
18-01-2026
What happened, where and when?
Chile has a wildfire season that runs from November/December to March/April, covering the regions from Coquimbo to Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. This season is characterized by maximum temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, winds that can exceed 30 kilometers per hour, and relative humidity below 30%. It is worth mentioning that during the summer season in much of Chile, relative humidity reaches 10-20% in interface areas (areas bordering forest and urban areas). Based on this forest fire season, the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) and the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) have established various measures for forest fire preparedness and mitigation, as well as an increase in the number of forest brigades and public resources to address these threats.
As part of its national emergency monitoring system protocols, the Chilean Red Cross has been conducting constant monitoring since 14 December, covering various hotspots throughout the country, with a total of 67 reports issued to date.
On 17 January at around 4:00 p.m., a large-scale forest fire emergency began in the Ñuble and Biobío regions in south-central Chile. This event was characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of multiple active fire spots, several of them classified as large-scale forest fires (IFM), covering over 200 hectares.
On 18 January, these fires went uncontrolled and rapidly spread due to adverse weather conditions and a sudden change of wind direction locally known as “viento puelche”, entering in a few hours in highly populated neighborhoods.
During the following week more than 25 fire hotspots activated in a constantly changing situation challenging response mechanisms.
By 23 January, the fires had affected an area of more than 34,351 hectares, with dozens of hotspots being fought, monitored, and controlled, distributed across various municipalities.
In the Ñuble Region, active fires were reported in the municipalities of Ránquil, San Nicolás, Coelemu, San Fabián, Quillón, and El Carmen, mainly affecting rural areas and urban-forest interface zones.
In the Biobío Region, the fires severely impacted neighborhoods in Concepción, Penco, Tomé, Santa Juana, Coronel, Florida, and Laja, including densely populated peri-urban areas.
Due to the severity of the event, its rapid evolution, and the high impact to the population, the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) declared a regional Red Alert, and the Government of Chile declared a State of Catastrophe on 18 January for both regions, activating the full deployment of resources from the national response system. (https://www.gob.cl/noticias/emergenciaregiones- nuble-biobio-incendios-estado-catastrofe/)
The emergency has had significant humanitarian impacts, including mass evacuations, loss of life, damage to homes, disruption to livelihoods, and significant alterations in access to basic services and critical infrastructure.