Arrested for Negligent Forest Fire in Chillán Viejo

The Ñuble Prosecutor's Office formally charged Carlos Duarte Ramirez, 59, for his alleged responsibility in a negligent forest fire in Chillán Viejo.

The individual, who was arrested by Carabineros, allegedly caused a fire on the property he was overseeing due to an illegal electrical connection that resulted in a short circuit. The deputy prosecutor Valentina Hormazábal González also charged him with electricity theft, in a context where the region is facing a State of Catastrophe due to multiple fires.

The incident, which took place in the San Pedro hamlet area, resulted in the burning of grasslands on another person's property, requiring the intervention of Firefighters and Conaf personnel for its extinguishment.

The prosecution emphasized the defendant's negligence, especially given the critical fire situation in the region. Additionally, the Chillán Guarantee Court was requested to impose the precautionary measure of a ban on leaving the country for Duarte, which was granted along with a four-month period for the investigation, to be carried out by the PDI.