Chile forest blaze kills six firefighters in Araucania (BBC) {indigenes vs lumber corps}
At least six firefighters have died battling a blaze in a mountain forest in southern Chile, the authorities say.
Two others were badly burned in the fire in the Araucania region.
Over the past week multiple forest fires have ravaged large areas of central and southern Chile.
President Sebastian Pinera says some appear to have been started deliberately, and has invoked an anti-terrorist law to pursue anyone responsible.
The six volunteer firefighters who died were part of a team trying to extinguish a blaze near Carahue in the Araucania region, about 700km (434 miles) south of the capital Santiago.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16434208
These fires in Chile have been in the news lately (see the end of the article for previous news reports) but I was not previously aware of the connection to the struggle between native tribes and extractivists. The word "Araucania" tickled something in my memory -- specifically, the connection to Araucaria araucana, the "Monkey Puzzle" tree, whose nuts are a major food source for some indigenous tribes. This tree is now listed as endangered, and forestry companies have been planting non-native species in the limited areas where Araucaria grows. In addition, they have been resorting to all the other usual tricks to force the natives off the land for the sake of company profits. Some sources for background (mostly Wiki):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana#Cultivation_and_uses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana#Discovery_and_naming
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/31355/0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapuche#Modern_conflict (earlier history reminiscent of USA Native American history ...)
http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/html/m_nation/main/current.htm
The "anti-terrorist" laws cited in the OP were created under the Pinochet regime, so interpret the name with a bit of charity. :/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Chile's government has suggested indigenous Mapuche activists may have been responsible for a forest fire that killed seven firefighters on Thursday.
The interior minister named a Mapuche group involved in land disputes with forestry companies.
President Sebastian Pinera has invoked an anti-terror law to pursue those responsible.
Mapuche activists have accused the government of trying to criminalise their movement.
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The Mapuche say the fires are partly due to the introduction of exotic tree species that have worsened seasonal drought.
The seven firefighters who died in the Araucania region, south of the capital Santiago, were employees of a forestry company.
The forestry workers' union says they were not properly trained or equipped for the job.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16452691
Jeez, it's not like the forestry corps are responsible for this -- after all, what could they possible have to gain ? 
