At least 123 people have tragically lost their lives in wildfires that have swept through central Chile, prompting the country's president to declare two days of national mourning. These devastating fires come on the heels of Colombia also declaring a state of disaster due to wildfires. Scientists are warning that climate change is making the heat waves and droughts that are affecting South America more frequent, which in turn contribute to the occurrence of wildfires by drying out the vegetation that fuels these blazes.
In the case of Chile, the fires erupted during a scorching heat wave that sent temperatures in the capital city of Santiago soaring to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). The extreme heat quickly evaporates moisture from wood, transforming it into ideal fire fuel. As a result, fires ignite faster and burn with greater intensity. Even a few degrees of additional heat can be the tipping point that transforms a mild fire season into a severe one.
