Six firefighters die in Chile forest blazess

Shifting winds caused flames to sweep over a group of firefighters battling wildfires in Chile, killing six of them, badly burning two and leaving another missing. A tenth firefighter listed as missing was later found unhurt. Nearly 50 wildfires have sprung up in southern Chile, alongside the Cordillera de la Costa, destroying hundreds of houses, forcing the evacuations of thousands of people and damaging the forestry and tourism industries that fuel the economy in the Patagonia region.

President Sebastian Pinera said a number of the blazes appeared to have been started intentionally and a criminal investigation is being opened under Chile’s severe anti-terrorism law.