Wildfires are engulfing Chile, claiming the lives of about 130 people so far and sparking questions about potential causes and solutions.
A 2014 forest fire in the Valparaíso region of Chile. Gabriela. CC BY-NC 2.0
As of February 9, 2024, nearly 5,000 people have been affected by what appear to be Chile’s deadliest forest fires on record. These devastating waves of flame follow the planet's hottest year and hottest January to date. Chile is not the only South American country to face an inferno following a scorching January, with forest fires reported in Colombia and Argentina as well.
Fires and climate change are in a feedback loop, amplifying each other. Consequences of climate change, including higher temperatures and heat waves, contribute to drier conditions and longer fire seasons. The fires create areas of dead, dry vegetation at greater risk of future fires, while the smoke from the fires pumps carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, further warming the planet.
As the planet continues to warm, natural phenomena such as El Nino are intensified, resulting in hotter heat waves accompanied by dry spells, particularly affecting countries in northern South America such as Colombia and Venezuela. As recorded in 2018, about 21% of Chile is forest. The nation's tree cover, paired with its long dry season and heat waves, has proved to be a deadly combination. Forest fires in Chile have contributed to a range of destructive consequences throughout the years, including the loss of lives and biodiversity.
Chile’s government has made strides to address climate change as a member of 20 international environmental agreements. Chile’s Forestry Service (CONAF) collaborates with the private forestry sector to implement preventative measures. In 2021, former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera presented the National Forest Fire Protection Plan. This plan allocated necessary resources to fire prevention and management, including firefighters, vehicles and technologies to predict and monitor fires. Despite these efforts, forest fires have continued in the country.
Scholars have identified that preventative measures are necessary in addressing forest fires. For example, controlled burns have been used by Indigenous People in North America for millenniums. Controlled burns are meticulously planned fires intentionally set to improve the health of a forest and reduce the risk of large-scale forest fires by decreasing the presence of dry vegetation. Other innovative measures to prevent forest fires include a gel-like fire retardant developed by researchers at Stanford University and technologies that can predict wildfires like Chile’s “Red Button” program.
Despite the issue of wildfires being amplified by climate change, about 99% of forest fires in Chile are caused by people, which is why education is another critical preventative measure. Tactics people can employ to prevent forest fires include taking steps to avoid creating sparks or fire when the area is hot, dry and windy and to refrain from driving over dry vegetation, as vehicle exhaust can reach temperatures over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Currently, the Chilean government is working tirelessly to combat the ongoing forest fires. For those looking to support these efforts, nonprofits like GlobalGiving provide platforms to donate to those affected, and social media offers a way for everyone to raise awareness.
Madison Paulus
Madison is a student at George Washington University studying international affairs, journalism, mass communication, and Arabic. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Madison grew up in a creative, open-minded environment. With passions for human rights and social justice, Madison uses her writing skills to educate and advocate. In the future, Madison hopes to pursue a career in science communication or travel journalism.