User:Penitentes/2023 Chile wildfires

The 2023 Chile wildfire season is a series of wildfires burning in the South American country of Chile. In early February, a large wildfire outbreak of at least 231 individual fires, several dozen of them 'red alert fires', burned a total of at least 40000 ha, and killed 22 people, causing the government to declare a state of emergency in three regions of the country.

Casualties
The Chilean government has reported at least 22 fatalities from the February wildfire outbreak, 11 of them in the town of Santa Juana in Biobío. Two of the other fatalities occurred when an emergency services helicopter crashed on February 3, killing its pilot and a mechanic, and a third occurred when a firefighter was struck by a truck while working an incident.

Damage
Almost 100 homes have been destroyed by the fires, according to the Chilean government.

Political
In February, Chile's interior ministry declared states of emergency in three regions (first-level administrative divisions): La Araucanía, Biobío, and Ñuble. Chilean President Gabriel Boric requested aid from neighboring countries Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.