Arsonist on horseback in Chile

Chile arson
In this low-res screenshot from the video the rider gets on his horse after starting a fire. The white smoke is just to the right of the horse’s right-rear leg. It is slightly easier to see in the video.

This video, shot February 3, 2016, shows evidence of intentionally set wildfires in southern Chile. In addition to the pattern of ignitions for several fires that indicate the work of an arsonist, you can actually see a horseback rider igniting fires.

When the black and white images appear, it indicates the camera operator has switched from regular video to infrared, which detects heat. The white areas are the hottest.

In recent days there has been much discussion in Chile about the cause of some of the scores of blazes in the country. At least 43 people have been arrested for allegedly starting fires. More than 400,000 hectares (almost a million acres) have burned and 11 people have been killed, including 4 firefighters and one air tanker pilot.

Again, this video is from a year ago.

map Chile arson
The red pointer marks the location of one of the scenes in the video, southeast of Conception.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

3 thoughts on “Arsonist on horseback in Chile”

    1. There are a number of motivations for these arsonists, often the setting of fires benefits them because they have fire fighters in their family who get paid only when they’re working.

      There are also political reasons, plus there is always the mental problem excuse for arsonists as well as religious reasons — which is the same as mental problem in my opinion.

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