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January 27, 2026 - Wildfires Scorch Chile
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Wildland fires broke out amid hot and dry conditions in south-central Chile in mid-January 2026, prompting evacuations and causing extensive damage to infrastructure. As of January 25, the spate of deadly fires had burned more than 51,986 hectares (126,480 acres) across the country since January 1 of this year, according to Chile’s National Forestry Corporation. They also reported that 13 large fires (over 100 acres) were active on that day, with most damage in the country’s Biobío and Ñuble regions.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of smoke billowing from multiple fires on January 21. Dozens of active fires in the area prompted the evacuation of 50,000 people and destroyed more than 300 homes, according to a January 19 report from Chile’s U.N. Resident Coordinator’s Office. Aerial and ground-based photographs showed neighborhoods in Concepción charred in the aftermath.
Gusty winds, along with temperatures that exceeded 38°C (100°F) in places, fanned the flames and hampered firefighting efforts, according to news reports. Chile’s president declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, allowing more resources to go toward battling the blazes and assisting affected communities.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/21/2026
Resolutions:
1km (80.7 KB), 500m (211.5 KB), 250m (252 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Wildland fires broke out amid hot and dry conditions in south-central Chile in mid-January 2026, prompting evacuations and causing extensive damage to infrastructure. As of January 25, the spate of deadly fires had burned more than 51,986 hectares (126,480 acres) across the country since January 1 of this year, according to Chile’s National Forestry Corporation. They also reported that 13 large fires (over 100 acres) were active on that day, with most damage in the country’s Biobío and Ñuble regions.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of smoke billowing from multiple fires on January 21. Dozens of active fires in the area prompted the evacuation of 50,000 people and destroyed more than 300 homes, according to a January 19 report from Chile’s U.N. Resident Coordinator’s Office. Aerial and ground-based photographs showed neighborhoods in Concepción charred in the aftermath.
Gusty winds, along with temperatures that exceeded 38°C (100°F) in places, fanned the flames and hampered firefighting efforts, according to news reports. Chile’s president declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, allowing more resources to go toward battling the blazes and assisting affected communities.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 1/21/2026
Resolutions:
1km (80.7 KB), 500m (211.5 KB), 250m (252 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
