Chilean court extends detention of suspect accused of starting wildfire that killed 20

Associated Press (AP) — A Chilean court on Friday ordered the pretrial detention of a 39-year-old man for his alleged involvement in one of the uncontrolled wildfires that have been raging across the central and southern parts of Chile for nearly a week, leaving at least 20 dead.

The man was arrested late Thursday night for his alleged involvement in the Trinitarias fire, the largest one amid the approximately fifteen wildfires that have been out of control since Sunday.

According to the prosecution, the fire started when the man was using a wood-burning stove in poor condition. Sparks quickly spread to the vast forest that surrounds Bio Bio — a region about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the capital Santiago that has been the center of the fires — unleashing one of the worst emergencies in Chile’s recent history.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office requested an extension of the accused’s detention because there are still some ongoing investigations, including the search for more bodies in Lirquen, the town that was ground zero for the tragedy.

The Guarantee Court of Concepción in Bio Bio accepted the request of the prosecutor’s office as part of an ongoing investigation “into an arson case resulting in death.”

During the hearing, prosecutor Jorge Lorca argued that the fire spread through embers. Videos provided by a forestry company have allowed investigators to link the suspect to the events under investigation, he added.

“We personally inspected the feasibility and distance of the actions with the Investigative Police, using an institutional helicopter,” Lorca told reporters outside the courthouse.

According to the court ruling, the accused must remain in pretrial detention until Jan. 26, when prosecutors will formally present the charges against the suspect — which have not yet been made public.

It was in Bio Bio that the blazes hit the hardest, reducing several small towns to ashes.

It has left a trail of destruction and at least 20 dead in the cities of Penco and Lirquen, ground zero for the tragedy. One other person died as the fires spread to other regions.

The Trinitarias fire, which the man is accused of sparking, was the first of several outbreaks in central and southern Chile.

As the days passed, it merged with two other fires, resulting in a massive wall of flames. In total, these fires have already ravaged more than 45,000 hectares (176 square miles) and left at least 21 dead and 305 injured, according to the most recent official figures.

There are about fifteen active megafires, also reported in the regions of Ñuble and La Araucania, in addition to Bio Bio.

Nearly 700 people remained in shelters on Friday, while more than 2,300 homes have been destroyed.

In terms of total area burned, these fires already far exceed what was consumed by the great Valparaiso and Viña del Mar fire in 2024, which devastated more than 8,500 hectares (33 square miles) and claimed 131 lives.

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Residents look out at wildfires by their homes near Concepcion, Chile, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)

FILE - Firefighters battle a blaze at a house as wildfires burn in Lirquen, Chile, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres, File)

Jonathan Escalona stands over his house damaged by wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)

FILE - Firefighters battle a wildfire spreading through a forested area near Concepcion, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres, File)

People transport food to victims of wildfires in Lirquen, Chile, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Javier Torres)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic is day-to-day for the Los Angeles Lakers because of a mild hamstring strain, putting his availability for the All-Star Game next weekend in question, while Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is trending toward missing that contest and the games leading up to it because of a knee injury.

The status of the two superstars were addressed ahead of the marquee game between the Warriors and Lakers on Saturday night, with Los Angeles coach JJ Redick indicating the MRI taken after Doncic was hurt in a win over Philadelphia on Thursday showed no significant injury.

The Lakers have three more home games prior to the All-Star break after Saturday, and Redick indicated Doncic would like to be available so he could play in his sixth career All-Star game.

“I’ve been around him as a teammate and as a coach, and I know he plays,” Redick said. “If he’s able to play, he plays. I think he wants to be in the All-Star Game. I know he wants to play against Dallas the game before the All-Star Game. He has his team working on him day and night, so again, it’s day-to-day. When he’s ready to play, we’ll get him out there.”

Doncic is averaging a league-leading 32.8 points. He's second in assists at 8.6, while also ranking in the top 25 in rebounds (7.8), as the 26-year-old Slovenian combo guard pushes for his first Most Valuable Player award.

Doncic was the Western Conference player of the month for January after he averaged 34.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists. He was also chosen as a starter for the U.S. vs. the World-formatted All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Feb. 15.

While the Lakers maintained optimism about Doncic’s status, Warriors coach Steve Kerr sounded a pessimistic note about Curry’s chances of appearing in his 12th All-Star Game, already calling him doubtful to play against Memphis on Monday night because of his right knee injury. The home game against the Grizzlies will be one of two remaining games after Saturday for Golden State before the annual exhibition.

“I think there’s a good chance that he doesn’t play ’til after the break,” Kerr said. “But we’re just going to take it day by day.”

Curry is averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists in his 17th NBA season. He missed a Jan. 26 loss to Minnesota because of the knee injury, then played reduced minutes in the next two games, and has now missed three straight games when the Warriors face the Lakers.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Stephen Curry arrives at the premiere of "GOAT" on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, at AMC Century City 15 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left shoots as Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow, left, and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reach for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)