Chilean Firefighter Allegedly Used Cigarettes to Ignite Wildfires, Resulting in 130 Deaths

Post by : Elena Malik

Photo : AFP

In a distressing revelation, it has come to light that a volunteer firefighter, Francisco Ignacio Mondaca, and a Chilean forestry official named Francisco Pinto are now formally accused by prosecutors of being involved in igniting the devastating wildfires that swept through central Chile this past February, claiming the lives of over 130 individuals. Both suspects are currently under pre-trial detention, according to the prosecutor's office in Valparaiso, a city situated near the areas most severely impacted by the infernos.

Reports suggest that Mondaca, the firefighter, allegedly executed the scheme, while Pinto, associated with Chile's National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), purportedly orchestrated the plan. Legal representatives for the accused individuals were not immediately reachable for comment.

Authorities indicate that Mondaca and Pinto conspired to initiate the fires deliberately, exploiting favorable meteorological conditions. Claudia Perivancich, the regional prosecutor of Valparaiso, stated to the press, "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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Disturbingly, it has been revealed that at each of the four locations where the fires initially erupted on February 2nd, investigators discovered incendiary devices fashioned from cigarettes and matches, underscoring their role in triggering the catastrophic blazes.

The investigating judge has allocated a six-month timeframe to conclude the investigation, emphasizing the need for further inquiry into the cases of missing victims and scrutiny of the suspects' cell phone records, as per a statement from Valparaiso's prosecutor office.

Additionally, Prosecutor Osvaldo Ossandon disclosed that authorities have linked Mondaca to six prior fires in the region, suggesting a potentially broader pattern of arson.

These wildfires constitute the most devastating natural calamity to strike Chile since the catastrophic 2010 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which claimed the lives of over 500 individuals.

Experts warn that such extreme weather events, including the severe heatwave experienced in Chile, are likely to become more frequent during the southern summer months due to climate change. Furthermore, the El Niño climate phenomenon, which results in warming of the Pacific Ocean, has exacerbated the extreme weather conditions in Chile.

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