As Fires Engulf Chile, Mobile Veterinary Clinics Race to Save Injured Pets

Veterinarians and volunteers in Chile are working tirelessly to rescue and treat animals affected by widespread wildfires.

LIRQUÉN, Chile — Fear, dehydration, and burns are common among the animals caught in the devastating wildfires currently ravaging parts of Chile. To provide urgent care, the national police’s canine brigade, alongside dedicated volunteer teams, has deployed mobile veterinary units to assist pets injured by the flames.

“Our primary mission is to care for animals rescued from the fire, found in the ashes, trapped under debris, or that escaped with their owners but still suffered injuries due to this extensive fire,” explained Angiella Scalpello, a veterinarian with the investigative police’s canine unit, in an interview with The Associated Press.

In a small, improvised van, Scalpello and her colleagues treat cats, dogs, and other pets in a temporary clinic. Many animals arrive with burns on their paws or whiskers, suffering from dehydration or conjunctivitis caused by prolonged exposure to smoke and toxic fumes. Some had been trapped for days in the remnants of homes, vehicles, or schools.

The town of Lirquén, in south-central Chile, has been particularly hard hit. With roughly 20,000 residents, the fire destroyed nearly 80% of the town. National reports indicate that the fires across the country have already claimed at least 20 lives, leaving nearly 300 people injured.

Many of the pets treated in the mobile clinics were rescued in the fire’s aftermath.

“Cats often hide in small corners and manage to survive both the fire and the days following it,” said Juan Vivanco, another veterinarian working in the mobile unit.

While the fire in Lirquén is currently under control, the pervasive scent of smoke and ash lingers over the streets. Cleanup efforts are underway, but more animals are expected to be rescued as authorities comb through the debris, Vivanco added.

“Unfortunately, the longer it takes to reach them, the lower their chances of survival,” he noted. “We’ve also discovered several pets that didn’t make it… this is tragically common.”

Upon arrival at the mobile unit, animals receive essential care, including IV fluids, wound treatment, and vital signs evaluation. Those in critical condition are transferred to fully equipped veterinary hospitals.

“We recently transported four or five puppies and three kittens. One kitten we rescued had all four paws and its tail burned—it was heartbreaking,” shared volunteer Vanessa Morales, who assisted at an emergency center.

Local residents also bring their pets to the mobile clinics for injuries or stress-related issues.

Chica, a senior poodle, narrowly escaped the flames thanks to her family’s swift evacuation. Although the house was destroyed, the family survived with minor injuries. Chica, however, developed eye discomfort. Her owner, Kevin Carrasco, sought veterinary care at the mobile unit.

“I noticed her eyes were irritated with some discharge, so I brought her here. The veterinarian provided eye drops and gauze to relieve her conjunctivitis,” Carrasco recounted.

Others, like Yasna Hidalgo, visit the clinic searching for pets missing amid the chaos caused by the fires.

“I’m trying to find my grandmother’s two dogs. She had to leave her house suddenly, and now it’s completely destroyed,” Hidalgo said.

Over the past three days, Lirquén’s residents have faced the brunt of the Trinitarias fire, which has consumed more than 140 square kilometers (54 square miles) in the Bío Bío region. This blaze is considered the most severe of the 30 wildfires currently burning across Chile.

This disaster ranks among Chile’s most serious emergencies in recent years, following massive wildfires two years ago that claimed over 130 lives. Tens of thousands of people were forced to evacuate over the weekend, many leaving behind cherished pets.

Student María Paz, 21, shared her harrowing experience:

“Everything burned. We lost everything. All 200 homes in our town were destroyed. Families, neighbors, and many animals, including my kitten, didn’t survive.”

The mobile veterinary units, along with volunteers, continue their relentless mission to save as many animals as possible from the aftermath of this unprecedented wildfire. Their efforts underscore the urgent need for coordinated rescue operations during natural disasters, ensuring that the most vulnerable—both humans and animals—receive timely care