Forest fires continue to burn across central Chile on December 26, with the Cerro Maule blaze in Maule commune holding at 1,127 hectares amid ongoing combat efforts. Twelve fires remain active nationwide, prompting red alerts in Maule, Machalí, and Pichidegua, a yellow alert in Litueche, and the detention of a man for attempted arson.
Building on earlier reports of the Cerro Maule fire—ongoing since December 24 and previously threatening evacuations and homes—the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) reports twelve fires still under combat as of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 26. The Cerro Maule incident has scorched 1,127 hectares, destroying two secondary homes and two sheds, with resources including seven technicians, three brigades, one heavy machinery unit, one helicopter, one Conaf tanker truck, firefighters, and two army brigades maintaining a red alert declared by Senapred.
Other significant fires include Larmahue in Pichidegua (O’Higgins Region), affecting 200 hectares, evacuating 400 people, and destroying two homes under a red alert with four technicians, six brigades, two helicopters, and Conaf heavy machinery. In Machalí, a fire has preliminarily burned 2.5 hectares, threatening the Río de Los Cipreses National Reserve, supported by one technician, three brigades, two helicopters, and two Conaf tanker planes under red alert. Litueche reports over 765 hectares burned under a yellow alert, with one technician, three brigades, three tanker trucks, and two heavy machines.
Authorities detained a 43-year-old man, F.J.H.D., for burning dry grass in rural Maule commune; his detention was extended to December 27, with investigations probing links to other fires. This comes amid an agrometeorological warning for temperatures up to 37°C in seven regions, including Maule and O’Higgins, from December 28 to 31, potentially exacerbating conditions.
