Of catastrophe in some areas, said its soldiers can join firefighters in battling the blazes. chile asking its neighbors for assistance, with argentina pledging to send more manpower and machinery. that help too late for some. more than 20 people have died because of the fires. and hundreds of homes have been damaged. much of the terrain in the fires path made up of vut initial farms and forests. some residents going into salvage mode, pouring buckets of water on their still-smoldering property to prevent reignition. for many, a total loss. what s left of their homes lies in scrap piles. on friday, chilean president gabriel borerich cut short his vacation, visiting people in shelters, saying the government is using all its strength to combat the fires and the families of the victims will get the help they need.