On January 18, Chilean President Boric declared a state of disaster in the Biobío and Nueva Leuco regions due to forest fires, authorizing the mobilization of all necessary resources for firefighting. By the 20th, the fires showed no signs of abating, with severe blazes also erupting in the neighboring Araucanía region. According to reports from BBC, Daxun, and other media outlets, the wildfires have caused damage to local communities and transportation infrastructure, with multiple ports experiencing varying degrees of operational disruption.

Among the hardest-hit ports—San Vicente, Talcahuano, and Lirquén—Lirquén has completely shut down, while the other two operate under restricted conditions. The northern port of Mejillones faces restrictions due to high waves, while Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, and Coquimbo continue normal operations. In central Chile, some docks in Valparaíso are affected by sea conditions, but ports like San Antonio remain unaffected. Overall, Chile's port network operates unevenly under dual pressures of wildfires and severe weather, with some ports like Coronel and Punta Arenas maintaining normal service.

Forestry authorities stated that firefighting forces are fully engaged in tackling multiple active hotspots, with current strong winds and summer heat significantly complicating containment efforts. AFP noted that central and southern Chile have suffered frequent wildfires in recent years, particularly during the peak dry and hot months of January and February. This fire is considered the most severe since the February 2024 Viña del Mar blaze that claimed 138 lives.