The radiation of heat from a slow burning stove would have caused the fire that left two deceased people and 12 victims, in the San Pedro de Valdivia.

The fire started in a house in the Santa Graciela passage and the flames spread to two other buildings.

The emergency caused consternation among residents and mobilized volunteers from eight fire companies.

The commander of the Fire Department of the commune, Ricardo Valverde, confirmed that the hypothesis being used is that the flames spread due to the irradiation of heat from a slow-burning stove.


The Carabineros deputy commissioner, Captain José Bustamante, stated that the force of the fire prevented the victims from being helped and detailed that it is presumed that they would be an older adult and a teenager, according to what is indicated by relatives.

Bustamante added that there were other three injured people.

Prosecutor Álvaro Pérez affirmed that DNA tests were ordered to the Legal Medical Service to obtain the identities of the deceased.

The Carabineros Criminalistics Laboratory investigates the case. The Public Prosecutor’s Office ruled out the participation of third parties and it was determined that it was an accidental fire.