The wildfires have not devoured the solidarity in Chile.

It has been a month since central south Chile has been gripped by wildfires that have swept away half a million of hectares of forest land. Eleven have died and 1,100 have been displaced. Thousands of homes have been burned, mostly in Santa Olga 500 km south of Santiago, a region of 5000 inhabitants that was completely destroyed.

The causes of the catastrophe vary: a heat wave with historic temperatures, the dry weather, the intense drought and the winds that have fed the hundreds of fires that broke out in the Andes, backbone of the Americas. It happened within the mountain chain between the Pacific and the Andes that makes the geography of this land very difficult to travel.

Some forty air tankers and helicopters and more than 4,500 fire fighters were not able to control so many fronts. Two fully equipped air giants are also at work against the fire: a Boeing 747 Supertanker capable of spreading about 70,000 litres of different liquids, and an Ilyushin-76 that was made available by the Russian government and is capable of launching 30 tons of water. Fire crews have been sent from Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Spain, Portugal, France and Venezuela.

The number of natural disasters between 2010 until now has been striking, beginning with the 8.8 earthquake followed by a tsunami that caused 535 deaths and millions of Euros in damage. At least three large volcanic eruptions followed all that. In 2015 a new earthquake registered 8.4 on the Richter scale . . . In 2014 and this year wildfires struck the areas around Valparaiso, a port city 115 km from the capital. There were many victims and damages into the 4 millions. It seemed impossible, but in 2015 there was the flooding of the Atacama Desert, the most arid place on earth. The mire carried away entire villages, roads, bridges and 28 people. And now there are more wildfires fanned by the drought…

There will be time for investigations into the cause and, in some places, fraud has not been ruled out. But now is time for action. The flames have not been able to devour the solidarity that has been set in motion in so many ways: collections of basic goods, the Hogar de Cristo organization that has launched a 1.8 million dollar fundraiser for rebuilding, and others who have taken on the cost of the Supertanker. One mother who coordinates a collection among families said: “They’re our brothers and sisters, we have to help.”
Only a few houses have been left standing in Santa Olga, but a Chilean flag appears over the smouldering rubble, an unfailing sign in the midst of the destruction. It stands for rebuilding and turning to nature again for a place to live, work and fulfil dreams. These souls will work hard with that age old patience of those who create their own history with sweat and tears, enveloped in a natural environment that has nothing to offer them.

Alberto Barlocci

Latest news from Focolare communities in regions that were hit by the wildfires

Marilyn and Juan report: “It’s already been 19 days since, with the help of countries from around the world, we have been fighting against wildfires in south central Chile where many Focolare communities are located. Now, after a superhuman effort, because of the strong winds more than 80 wildfires that are still burning are reigniting fires that had already been put out.

Several villages where many Focolare families are found have been completely evacuated. For several nights locals along with firefighters and volunteers keep watch in order to keep the fire from growing. There are so many experiences of solidarity especially for people who are on the ground, like Manuel and Silvia, Volunteers from the Focolare who live in Chiguayante, an area completely surrounded by the fire. They were forced to evacuate their house because of the impending danger. Together with their children and neighbours they risked their own lives to “clear” the land so that the fire wouldn’t be able to spread. Even though the situation is now under control, there is always a danger that the wind will change direction.

Victoria, Jorge and their three children live in Tomè which is also in danger. With their children and other young people they collected basic goods to share with people who have lost everything, and took those goods to the most isolated regions where it is difficult for help to arrive. Father Alex from the Russian Orthodox Church and a great friend of the Focolare, lives in Hualqui, a small village. He celebrates the Holy Mass in Chiguayante where his community is located. The fires took his village with great force and blocked the roadway so that he had to return on foot to assist the people who were still gripped by fear.

There have also been experiences of solidarity in the Focolare communities that are far from the fires. The linked up on whatsapp and in just a few days truckloads of help arrived. We are seeing the great capacity of the people to respond in the face of difficulty with resilience and very touching acts of solidarity.

It’s powerful to see the beaming smiles of all the people who have helped, and to feel that there is truly “more joy in giving than in receiving.”Before every action, we renew the unity among ourselves so that we will be more prepared to love the people that are in need. Every night at 22:00 we united in prayer to ask for the miracle of rain, and many others unite with us in this prayer.”