Chile forest fires rip through dozens of homes

  • 12 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

STORY: The Valparaiso region west of Santiago remained on red alert for forest fires Monday (February 27) as flames spread to residential areas, destroying dozens of homes.

Two firefighting helicopters were already being used as firefighters struggled to contain the massive blaze and authorities said three more could soon join the fight as they look to save as many homes as possible and quickly extinguish the inferno.

Residents of the coastal city of Vina Del Mar, just north of the city of Valparaiso and about 70 miles west of the capital of Santiago, helplessly stood by hoping the homes they were forced to abandon would not succumb to the flames.

Chile's State Emergency Office, ONEMI, has said more than 125 acres have already been scorched adding the area remained on red alert until the flames can be controlled.

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