Why Chile’s wildfires are spreading faster and burning hotter

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(22 Jan 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Concepción, Chile - 20 January 2026 1. Various of people watching intense flames engulf trees 2. Wide of firefighters battling a fire ASSOCIATED PRESS Santiago, Chile - 21 January 2026 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Miguel Castillo, University of Chile: "We are experiencing a particularly critical situation that is far removed from the usual averages typically seen during wildfire seasons. In fact, this year in particular we are almost tripling the amount of affected area." ASSOCIATED PRESS Penco, Chile - 18 January 2026 4. Various aerial shots of burned houses and cars ++MUTE++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Boulder, Colorado - 21 January 2026 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Iglesias, University of Colorado Boulder: "The main causes of the fires in Chile right now are unknown in terms of ignition. It's still being studied what started the fires. What we do know is that changes in land use and fuel accumulation, including introduction of invasive species. And flammable vegetation has contributed to increases in fuel." ASSOCIATED PRESS Punta de Parra, Chile - 19 January 2026 6. Various aerial shots of burned down houses ++MUTE++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Boulder, Colorado - 21 January 2026 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Iglesias, University of Colorado Boulder: "And climate change has increased the periods when fuel is dry enough to support fires." ASSOCIATED PRESS Penco, Chile - 18 January 2026 8. Wide of a family sitting on the street watching their house burn 9. Various of firefighters battling a fire ASSOCIATED PRESS Boulder, Colorado - 21 January 2026 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Iglesias, University of Colorado Boulder: "Wind patterns are being altered and wind speeds, wind is a prevalent factor in Patagonia. For anybody who's been there they know that wind is blowing pretty much all the time. Now those winds are very erratic and very intense. So that has a huge impact on fire spread" ASSOCIATED PRESS Penco, Chile - 18 January 2026 11. Mid of a burned car 12. Mid of a man washing his hands at a burned house 13. Mid of a man hugging a woman ASSOCIATED PRESS Boulder, Colorado - 21 January 2026 14. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Iglesias, University of Colorado Boulder: "Something that communities are already experiencing, is impacts on air quality. Fires release lots of particulate matter that gets incorporated into the atmosphere. And that's been shown once and again that it can have pretty severe health impacts, especially on vulnerable populations." ASSOCIATED PRESS Penco, Chile - 18 January 2026 15. Aerial shot of a burned neighborhood 16. Wide of a street with houses destroyed by the fire 17. Mid of a burned car and house on fire ASSOCIATED PRESS Boulder, Colorado - 21 January 2026 18. SOUNDBITE (English) Virginia Iglesias, University of Colorado Boulder: "Most of the work needs to happen before a fire. And that comes with planning and with mitigation and, again, education." ASSOCIATED PRESS Punta de Parra, Chile - 19 January 2026 19. Various of residents cleaning up debris from burned down homes 20. Aerial shot of residents clearing debris STORYLINE: Chile is reeling from one of its most serious wildfire emergencies in years. Deadly flames sweeping across central and southern parts of the South American country have turned large swaths of forest and towns to ash, killed at least 20 people, forced tens of thousands from their homes and left families sifting through charred debris. “Plantations facilitate the rapid spread of fire,” Castillo said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/4dbfa82c094149d7868a35abe493fe26