Raging Destructive Forest Fires in Chile

Forest fires continued to rage in southern Chile destroying dozens of homes, a wood mill and killing a 75-year-old man in his home as firefighters struggle to contain the flames.

The fires have consumed at least 40 homes and forced more than 500 people to evacuate as more towns remain in the path of the fires.

More than 25 thousand acres are burnt out so far with fierce winds driving the flames.

Firefighters have called in a firefighting helicopter and two planes to battle the blazes.

One of several fires in the southern-central Bio Bio region engulfed and destroyed a local wood panel plant early on Monday.

Area residents were forced to abandon their homes and wait for evacuation.

One resident says his elderly neighbor had been killed in his home before anyone could check on him.

[Neighbor of Person Killed]:

"When we went to see, the house was already burnt. I went to see and it was already burned.

The Concepcion and Nuble provinces have been on red alert since Saturday for five fires in the area.

Over 500 fire-fighters from Chile and Argentina are working around the clock to control the raging fires.