Devastating forest fires are burning in South-Central Chile. Authorities warn of more fires in new regions due to dry weather and hot temperatures.
Chile's pulp and wood products company Celulosa Arauco y Constitución stopped pulp production at the Nueva Aldea site in the Chilean region of Bío Bío on 2 February until further notice. The measure was necessary due to forest fires that have been spreading between Maule and Los Ríos since 1 February, the company explained upon request.
There was also a fire in the wood storage area of Arauco's factory in Nueva Aldea. The wood processing facilities and the factory itself did not suffer any damange, the company explained.
Pulp, paper and board producer Empresas CMPC has had to temporarily suspend pulp production at its three Chilean mills in recent days and weeks due to the forest fires in the region. The company's industrial facilities in the Chilean regions of Ñuble, Bío Bío and Araucanía were and are not directly affected by the fires, but operations at the mills were temporarily suspended at different times to protect staff and the surrounding communities, CMPC announced.
