Volunteer firefighter, forestry official accused of setting fatal wildfires in Chile

A volunteer firefighter and a Chilean forestry official have been formally accused by prosecutors for their alleged roles in setting the wildfires that ravaged the coastal city of Vina del Mar in February, claiming the lives of 137 people.

Volunteer firefighter Francisco Ignacio Mondaca and an official from Chile's National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) Francisco Pinto have been implicated in the deadly blaze. Both the suspects are currently in pre-trial detention. Authorities alleged that Mondaca executed the arson, while Pinto is identified as the mastermind behind the plot.

Regional Prosecutor Claudia Perivancich reportedly stated, "We have material that shows that they agreed to act jointly when the appropriate meteorological conditions arose to ensure that the fires occurred."

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Evidence uncovered by investigators revealed that the fires were allegedly ignited using devices made of cigarettes and matches placed at four outbreak sites.

This deliberate act has prompted a rigorous investigation. A judge granted six months to complete inquiries, focusing on the cases of missing victims and the suspects' cell phone records.

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Prosecutor Osvaldo Ossandon linked Mondaca to six previous fires in the region.

Deadly wildfires

The severity of these wildfires marked Chile's deadliest forest fires, making them the worst natural disaster since the 2010 earthquake and tsunami. In the aftermath, the disaster left Vina del Mar, a popular tourist destination, in ruins.

Rodrigo Mundaca, the governor of the Valparaiso region, at the time of the incident expressed concerns over the possibility of deliberate arson, stating, "These fires began in four points that lit up simultaneously."

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The February fires prompted a national response, with the Chilean president declaring two days of national mourning.

Reflecting on the tragedy, Commander of the 13th Fire Company of Valparaiso, Vicente Maggiolo, said,“We are completely devastated by what happened, it is a totally isolated incident... we have served Valparaiso for more than 170 years and cannot allow such things."

(With inputs from agencies)