In January 2017, Chile suffered a wave of wildfires that affected several municipalities in four different regions. More than 150 fires occurred during a two-month period, 58 of them simultaneously. This unusual situation led the Chilean authorities to request international collaboration, and countries such as the United States and Mexico responded.

The European Union responded through its Civil Protection Mechanism and sent teams from Spain, France and Portugal, including a UME team of 50 troops from the 1st emergency response battalion (BIEM I) and 6 advisors from the headquarters, who arrived in Chile on January 29.

The Spanish team was assigned to the Biobío region, one of the most affected Chilean provinces. UME was at the disposal of the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) of the region, who oversaw the planning and implemented the tasks in the area.

UME’s first mission was in Nonguen, a strategic location in the area because it is the sanctuary of important native fauna and flora and the water reserve of Penca’s community. Hence the priority given by the Biobío authorities to the fight against wildfires in this region.

The main mission was to establish the defense lines with hand tools, while the water discharged from the air reduced the intensity of the flames. This stopped the fire before reaching the Natural Reserve.

The following day, UME was assigned to the Pichaco-Hualqui fire with the main objective of protecting the houses located in the wooded area. There, in collaboration with CONAF forest firefighters and the use of manual tools like billhooks, Pulaskis and McLeods, the fire was extinguished.

In the afternoon, a blaze of fire threatened a group of houses that were very close to the wooded area. In order to counteract the threat and protect the populated area, the firefighters of the region of Antofagasta joined the team and, with a fire truck and manual tools, it was possible to save the houses.

The joint effort of CONAF forest firefighters, aerial support and international teams reduced the number of wildfires, ending the emergency phase in the region. Before their return to Spain, many travelers who were in the Santiago airport expressed their gratitude for the job done by the Spanish team.

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