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Ñuble Reports 53% More Wildfires Compared to Last Season

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The situation regarding wildfires this week in various parts of the country is concerning. Ñuble is experiencing a nearly 53% increase in wildfires compared to last season, keeping emergency agencies on alert.

The fire that caused the most concern in the region during Christmas was one that broke out in the commune of Ñiquén, where at times four houses were at risk as the flames came within just 20 meters of them.

In fact, a red alert was declared by the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred). However, thanks to the swift action of the Ñuble National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), firefighters, and emergency teams, the situation was brought under control.

Although there has been an increase in these incidents this season, no homes have been damaged, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The regional director of Conaf Ñuble, Juan Salvador Ramírez, provided an update on the situation, explaining that, to date, during the 2024-2025 season, there have been 121 wildfires—over 40 more than last season.

"By the same date last year, during the 2023-2024 season, 79 wildfires had been recorded. Now, during the 2024-2025 period, 121 wildfires have occurred," he detailed.

Regarding the damage, Conaf reported that this season has seen over 1,180 hectares burned—a 484% increase compared to last season.

"Last year at this time, 203 hectares had been burned. This year, we’ve reached 1,187 hectares burned," the director explained.

Fire at the Regional Border

Last Tuesday, a large-scale fire broke out at the regional border between the commune of Cauquenes in Maule and Quirihue in Ñuble, which remains active.

Despite over 1,200 hectares already being consumed, personnel from Conaf Ñuble and Maule, as well as firefighters from Quirihue and Cauquenes, have been working tirelessly to combat the flames. It is currently under control and expected to enter the mop-up phase soon.

"This fire is 100 meters from our region. It has already affected over 1,200 hectares. We’ve been supporting and collaborating with the Maule Region from the very beginning. Conaf Ñuble deployed response teams to assist," Ramírez explained.

"We’re working with ground resources and brigades. The fire is under control, and we hope it will soon move to the mop-up phase. On Wednesday, we also provided support for a fire in Hualqui, where a Super Puma helicopter was deployed," he added.

High Temperatures and Prevention

Temperatures in the coming days are expected to remain within the normal range, peaking at 34 degrees Celsius this Sunday. Nonetheless, the corporation continues to emphasize prevention, as there is a lot of dry grass.

"The grass is very dry. Dead fine fuel breaks and crackles when touched, which indicates it’s 100% dry. It has no moisture, making it more susceptible to wildfires," the authority stated.

"It’s crucial to take extreme precautions. Response teams are ready, and we’ve increased resources as a government, but we must work together to prevent wildfires. We’ve seen an increase in fires along roads due to irresponsible people making campfires or discarding cigarette butts," the director added.

"If any of you see someone misusing fire in an unauthorized area and causing a wildfire, call Conaf and firefighters to control it, and notify the police to provide the necessary information," Ramírez concluded.

Source:La Discusión