2026 Chilean wildfires

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On 16 January 2026, major wildfires began in Chile’s Biobío and Ñuble regions. By late January, more than 75 fires had burned about 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres). At least 21 people were killed and over 75 injured. More than 50,000 people fled their homes, and about 800 buildings were destroyed (roughly 325 homes in Biobío and 25 in Ñuble).

The towns of Lirquén and Penco and parts of Concepción were badly affected. The largest fire, Trinitarias, burned more than 23 kilometers and threatened thousands of homes and a gas plant. A state of catastrophe was declared in Biobío and Ñuble. Extreme heat (above 38°C) and strong winds (40–50 km/h) helped fires spread and slowed firefighting until morning. About 3,000 firefighters were deployed.

In Angol, a fire engine was attacked. On 21 January, police arrested a man suspected of starting a fire with accelerant in Perquenco, seizing five liters of fuel. Government compensation for victims was set at $700–$1,500 per household. Nine shelters housed roughly 630 people; about 1,500 were left homeless. Some officials criticized the response as slow. By late January, authorities were still assessing damage in Ñuble and Concepción.