A member of the Gonzalez family pets his dog after the family's home caught fire during wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)
Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left several people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed scores of homes, authorities said.
The South American country is sweltering under a heat wave.
___
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Damaged vehicles line a road after wildfires swept through residential areas in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Members of the Gonzalez family sit on a sidewalk after their home caught fire during wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Police recover the bodies of people who died after wildfires swept through homes near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A woman holds a cat rescued after wildfires swept through homes near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Wildfires burn at sunrise near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A dog burned by wildfires stands in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Areas lie burned by wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Reimundo Neira sits inside a vehicle, damaged by fire, after his home burned down in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Residents stand by houses burned by wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Vehicles stop at a toll plaza at sunrise as wildfires burn near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)A man leads his horse past homes burned by wildfires near Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Firefighters battle a blaze at a house as wildfires burn in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Smoke rises as wildfires burn in forested areas near Concepcion, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Firefighters battle a blaze at a house as wildfires burn in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)Damaged vehicles line a road after wildfires swept through residential areas in Lirquen, Chile, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
