Chilean firefighter arrested on suspicion of starting forest fires that killed 137 people

by Mick the Ram

Chilean authorities have arrested a volunteer firefighter and a former forestry official on suspicion of starting the fire which killed at least 137 people in February of this year.

Simultaneous blazes were started which tore through the country’s Valparaíso region, near to Lake Penuelas and the resort of Vina del Mar – home to 300,000 residents.

The flames quickly spread through high temperatures and strong wind, causing one of the biggest disasters in Chile during the past 30 years.

Firefighter Francisco Mondaca, is accused of igniting the fire and flares and fireworks were found in his vehicle.

Franco Pinto, a former employee of the National Forest Corporation, is accused of being behind the planning.

One of the suspects has reportedly informed investigators that they started the inferno for financial reasons, as the fires would give both men more work, although that is still unconfirmed.

The men will be remanded in custody on charges of arson resulting in the multiple deaths.

Country’s worst ever forest fire outbreak

The fire was the second deadliest in the world this century, affecting more than 16,000 people. It occurred at a time when the country was in the grip of a heatwave that saw temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

At its height there were 165 active fires, contributing to what became Chile’s worst outbreak in history.

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State of emergency

Several hospitals and nursing homes had to be evacuated due to power outages that the inferno created. The hilly landscape in the surroundings made evacuation, fire fighting, and search and rescue extremely difficult.

A state of emergency and two days of mourning were declared by President Gabriel Boric.

Precision planning

Investigators determined that the two men had an alliance and had agreed in advance to carry out the action and had planned it for when the meteorological conditions were “precisely adequate to ensure that a fire of this proportion would occur,” so said Regional Prosecutor Claudia Perivancich.   

Two man job

Ivan Navarro, chief of the environmental crime investigation authority, said detectives reconstructed what the arrested firefighter did before, during and after the fire. “We were able to determine the exact locations where the fires broke out and find the device that started them,” he said.

Continuing, he added: “We were also able to determine the involvement of a second person, accused of being the mastermind behind the arson. He provided the knowledge to make these devices and also gave the exact times for when the fire would do more damage.”

Fire chief devastated by the incident

Commenting on the arrest of the firefighter, Vicente Maggiolo, who is commander of the 13th Fire Company in Valparaiso, which lies around 122km (75 miles) from the Chilean capital, Santiago, said: “We are completely devastated by what happened, it is a totally isolated incident.”

He went on to add that he firmly believed it should not tarnish the work of the department: “We have served Valparaiso for more than 170 years and are very dismayed by the situation.” 

Possible links to other arsons

Prosecutor Osvaldo Ossandón said: “There were approximately four outbreaks, equidistant from each other.” 

He said materials used to start the blazes were found in the home of one of the suspects, adding that investigators are examining possible links to other arson attacks