Summary Authorities say 15 firefighters are among 21 people who have been injured
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Firefighters in Chile are working to contain a blaze that has forced some 7,000 people to flee their homes near the Pacific coast.
The fire began Friday afternoon at an illegal dump near the city of Valparaiso. It quickly spread in strong winds and authorities declared a state of emergency.
Thousands have been evacuated from neighborhoods in Valparaiso and Deputy Interior Secretary Mahmud Aleuy says thousands more might need to leave their homes.
The fire is blamed for causing the death of a woman in her 60s who suffered cardiac arrest. Authorities say 15 firefighters are among 21 people who have been injured.
Valparaiso is known for its colorful, tightly packed neighborhoods which hug steep hillsides. Last year, a forest fire there killed 15 people and destroyed nearly 3,000 homes.
