• Teams respond to Chile wildfires
- simoneworthing
- 23 hours ago
- 1 min read
As catastrophic wildfires spread through the Biobío Region in southern Chile, Salvation Army Disaster Response Teams are deployed at ground zero, providing holistic support to affected communities.
The devastating fires, which began on 16 January, have burned nearly 30,000 hectares, destroying more than 750 homes and leaving 6707 people homeless. At least 21 lives have been lost and around 50,000 people were evacuated as the fires spread rapidly.
Salvation Army teams are prioritising the most urgent needs, and coordinating the preparation and distribution of food, drinking water and essential hygiene items.
Officers and volunteers are working from two nearby corps and installed two soup kitchens to ensure sustained humanitarian assistance.
Alongside emergency relief, the teams are offering much-needed emotional and spiritual support to families who have lost their homes and even loved ones. These efforts are taking place as government agencies continued evacuations, damage assessments and early recovery planning.
The Salvation Army in Chile remains committed to a rapid, compassionate and coordinated response to this and other emergencies, serving people in need both materially and spiritually.
The Salvation Army asks for prayers for the affected communities, for its teams on the ground and for effective coordination with local authorities, trusting in God’s guidance and provision at every stage of the response.
Chile is part of the South America West Territory.
