A searing heatwave, dry weather, and winds made it especially challenging for emergency teams to stop the rapid spread of fires in Chile. The regions of Biobío, Ñuble, and Araucanía were the hardest hit where in some areas temperatures rose above 104°F.
The situation is one of the country’s worst natural disasters in years—thousands were injured, over one million acres burned, and more than 20 people lost their lives, including first responders. The 2023 fire season, alone, was the second worst in terms of acre damage. Chile is facing a more than decade-long period of dry weather and in 2022 the World Meteorological Organization said it was the longest in a thousand years and marked a major water crisis.
WCK’s Relief Team quickly mobilized to deliver fresh meals to frontline communities and emergency crews working tirelessly.
Our Relief Team, supported by local leaders, was able to check in across all the impacted regions to see how WCK could support. In areas hard-hit, we supported local restaurants cooking for neighbors and first responders. Local volunteers were vital in ensuring nourishing meals reached seniors unable to leave home, first responders on the frontline, and hard to reach communities.
By the numbers
hot meals & sandwiches served
restaurant partners
distribution points
across impacted regions
One of the areas we served is Santa Juana where we met María. She has always been a leader in her town, now María’s trying to find the strength to support her family and community. Hear her story below.
Jose
Jose
A local firefighter for 50 years, Jose says the current Chile fires are hard because they’re spread out in 3 regions with difficult access—he hasn’t slept for 2 days. Fortunately, there’s been a lot of solidarity from fire brigades and communities around the country. Jose is with the brigade in Portezuelo in the Ñuble Region. We’re supporting first responders across the impacted areas with fresh food.
Carli
Carli
Carli, her daughters, and granddaughterproduly stand in front of Carli’s food truck which specializes in “completos”—hot dogs dressed with tomatoes, avocado, and three different sauces. Set up at Santa Juana’s biggest center of operations, every evening Carli and her family help WCK provide fresh food to to first responders and volunteers hard at work.“A happy Chilean is a Chilean that’s eating,” says Carli.
Sabro Sándwiches
Sabro Sándwiches
In Tomé, Sabro Sándwiches is helping us serve hundreds of meals to remote, mountainous communities and volunteers fighting the blazes. The situation is challenging because fires are sparking in different areas each day and at times by the hour. WCK partners and local teams are coordinating in real time to ensure communities in need receive hot meals when they are needed.
