Fire
Industry News
The fire at Nevados de Chillán resort in Chile is now under control, and the resort has announced a phased reopening beginning Tuesday, September 8.
The fire broke out on Sunday, September 6, in the late afternoon at the Hotel Alto Nevados, located in the ski area. Due to dry downslope winds common in the Andes, the small fire quickly grew into a major emergency affecting multiple adjacent buildings, including a ski school, cafeteria, and a rental shop as firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control.
At the time the fire broke out, Hotel Alto Nevados had 119 guests and 100 staff on site, according to Ñuble’s Regional Government, all of whom were evacuated safely. The hotel was housing several FIS Masters athletes who had traveled to Nevados for a FIS Masters race. The resort announced that the race is canceled. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported. Ñuble’s 3rd Fire Company reportedly lost a significant portion of its equipment, including hoses, in the blaze, though volunteers managed to evacuate the company’s fire truck before it could be damaged.
Bogus Basin ski racer Alex Maresjo, who was staying at the hotel, reported, “There were no fire alarms or smoke detectors in the hotel.” He was one of around 40 American Masters athletes staying at the hotel and recounts finding out that the hotel was on fire by sticking his head out of the window to find out what people were yelling about. “Some found out because the smoke engulfed their room, others found out because someone banged on their door, one found out because the ring of their phone woke them up.” Another American Masters athlete, Lisa Densmore Ballard from Montana, describes escaping with the clothes on her body, stating that “most of us have only what we were wearing, though a few of us managed to grab passports, phones, and wallets on the run.” A fundraiser was started to support the Masters athletes who have lost all of their equipment.
Nevados de Chillán closed the resort for all of Monday.
By Monday evening, the resort confirmed that the fire was under control. “We inform you that the emergency is under control, and we reiterate that all our passengers, collaborators, and work teams are safe,” the resort said in its update. In the update, Nevados de Chillán said its teams and the relevant authorities remained on site conducting damage assessment and appraisal work, and that the affected area — the hotel and Plaza Otto sector — would remain closed to the public while that work continues, in the interest of safety.
Starting Tuesday, September 8, Nevados de Chillán will begin a gradual reopening of its unaffected areas. Hotel Nevados, Valle Hermoso, and the Ski Center will resume operations as conditions allow, with the resort saying it will provide daily updates on hours, available services, and open runs through its official social media channels. “We appreciate, as always, the understanding, respect, and affection of our community in these difficult days,” the resort added. “We continue to work with responsibility, unity, and commitment to get ahead.”
Ñuble’s Regional Government has also mobilized in support of the resort’s recovery. Acting Governor Alejandro Aguilera and the region’s Head of Development and Industry, Raúl Súnico, visited Nevados de Chillán to meet directly with resort management, firefighters, and local trade associations, discussing how the regional government’s support programs could help fund immediate solutions to reactivate the complex — including support for the fire volunteers who lost equipment battling the blaze.
Officials also urged tourists to continue supporting the broader Las Trancas destination, noting that the area remains operational despite the fire.
This remains a developing situation as damage assessment continues, and SnowBrains will update this piece with further details on the reopening timeline as they become available.
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