![A neighborhood destroyed by wildfires in the village of Santa Olga, Chile, Jan. 26, 2017 (AP photo by Esteban Felix.)](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/l_chile_02152017_1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
For the past three weeks, much of Chile was burning. The country is prone to seasonal wildfires, but this year, the worst fires in Chilean history raged out of control. By the time they receded, 11 people were dead, nearly 1.5 million acres of land were burnt, and 1,644 homes were destroyed. Smog choked the air in the capital, Santiago, and major cities narrowly escaped devastation. One village in central Chile, Santa Olga, was burnt completely to the ground. For many observers, these devastating fires are a reminder of the advancing perils of climate change. But in Chile, they also […]