Since Wednesday 5 February 2025, devastating wildfires have been sweeping through central and southern Chile, affecting communities in Biobío, La Araucanía, and Los Ríos. Fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and prolonged drought, the fires have burned over 22,000 hectares, destroying homes, infrastructure, and small farmers’ livelihoods. Hundreds of farmers – among them many indegenous mapuche people – have lost their crops and fedder, and pasture for their animals, impacting not only this season but the next. On February 8, President Gabriel Boric declared a state of emergency in the central regions of Maule and Ñuble. A total of 82 fires have been recorded, with 8 still active, and 4 under observation. The situation in La Araucanía and surrounding regions remains critical.
Initial assessments indicate that around 44 people may be affected, with one confirmed fatality and more than 76 displaced. Emergency response efforts are ongoing, with urgent needs in shelter, clean water access, and livestock feed.
Desafio Levantemos Chile
Desafío Levantemos Chile, a member of the OCHA-UNDP Connecting Business Initiative (CBI), has been on the ground supporting families affected by the wildfires in Araucania, one of the most affected regions. On Monday 10 February, Emergency Director Askaan Wohlt deployed to the region to assess the situation and provide immediate assistance. His team arrived in Collipulli, where they identified urgent community needs, including 93 families without access to water, and dozens of farmers struggling to feed their animals.
Emergency Response
In partnership with Compañía de Cervecerías Unidas (CCU), Desafío is distributing recovery kits with essential supplies, including materials to rebuild perimeter fences and feed for affected people’s livestock and to help them rebuild:
- Perimeter kits for land and animal protection
- Water kits for extraction and conservation
- Rural kits with animal feed, bundles of hay
Desafío Levantemos Chile is working closely with the mayor of Collipulli to streamline emergency response activities and assess the wildfires’ impact on small businesses and the broader community. The organization is leveraging its experience from previous crises, including the Valparaíso mega-fire in February 2024, to deliver an efficient and effective response.
How You Can Help
Desafio Levantemos Chile has set up a donation drive to raise funds to support the families affected by the fire in the Araucanía Region. The donation will be used to deliver rural kits with basic supplies for animal care, land repair and fencing, as well as water kits for families.
About Desafío Levantemos Chile
Since 2010, Desafío Levantemos Chile has responded to 24 national and 4 international emergencies, providing comprehensive and sustainable solutions for affected communities. Over the past 15 years, the non-governmental organization (NGO) has supported nearly 1.7 million people, consistently working to rebuild lives and restore hope.