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Wildfires in Chile caused widespread destruction

#ChefsForChile
Central Chile | February 2024
First responders mobilized across central Chile to contain the deadliest wildfires to sweep across the region in recent history. WCK’s Relief Team was on the ground distributing meals and water to displaced families and rescue crews.

Wildfires burned through the coastal cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso in central Chile. Blazes destroyed huge swaths of land and forced evacuations across the region. Hundreds of firefighters were on the ground in an all-out effort to control the flames. A regional state of emergency was declared as more than 15,000 homes were affected, and more than 100 people lost their lives. 

WCK’s teams arrived on the ground and began working quickly to identify all pockets of need. We provided sandwiches and water to people who lost their homes and worked with local restaurant partners to begin cooking more meals as soon as possible. This latest outbreak of blazes impacted the region exactly one year after our teams were in Chile supporting communities affected by a different set of wildfires

We were joined on the ground by our trusted partner Fundación Gastronomía Social, who worked alongside us during other responses in the country, most recently after severe flooding in late summer 2023.

By the numbers

27

Food Truck & Restaurant Parnters

140,000+

Meals

46

Communities Supported

Chef Corps in Chile

Meet Chef Fernanda Fuentes and hear how she guided WCK’s response in her home country.

First Week in Chile

Learn about how WCK, our partners, and our volunteers worked quickly to scale up our response after the fires.

Partner Organization

Fundación Gastronomía Social

Fundación Gastronomía Social (FGS) is a local nonprofit developing systems across Chile to promote food security and human and environmental health. They have worked alongside WCK on previous responses in the country, including guiding our response after severe flooding in August 2023. FGS quickly joined our teams to scout and create connections in communities impacted by the recent wildfires, helping to distribute sandwiches and water at the same time.

Help us continue feeding families in need.

Latest from the ground

  • “It’s a wonderful way to change the world—food & love.” Chef Corps member Fernanda Fuentes joined WCK in Chile to help identify where to direct meals to people impacted by the devastating fires. Fernanda is a world-renowned chef with restaurants in Chile & Spain. #ChefsForChile

    Twitter | 2/17/2024
  • Chef Sebas is leading WCK’s Relief Kitchen at @Inacapinos in Valparaiso, Chile. Our teams at this, and our second kitchen, are cooking thousands of nourishing meals daily for families impacted by devastating wildfires. On the menu today: pork with rice & veggies! #ChefsForChile

    Twitter | 2/16/2024
  • Families in El Olivar have been joined by groups of volunteers for the exhausting task of clearing debris left behind by the wildfires. WCK’s food truck partner Rolling Taste is fueling these efforts, providing more than 1,000 delicious burgers to the community. #ChefsForChile

    Twitter | 2/15/2024