<p>Helicopters dropped thousands of gallons of water on the outskirts of the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday to extinguish a fire that destroyed more than 200 homes.</p>.<p>Dozens of people living in the city's Rocuant and San Roque hills sifted through the ruins of their homes after strong winds whipped the blaze through their neighborhoods Tuesday.</p>.<p>Residents had been evacuated and there were no reports of casualties.</p>.<p>The fire destroyed more than 200 homes and affected more than 1,000 people, Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said Wednesday evening.</p>.<p>Earlier, Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said authorities believe arson caused the blaze and urged people to report any suspicious activity.</p>.<p>"We're not certain, but everything indicates that yesterday's fire was intentional, and began in an area quite close to the homes," said Ezio Passadore, emergency manager for Valparaíso.</p>.<p>The fire was doused in urban areas but remained “active” in the woods, said Ricardo Toro, head of Chile's national emergency office.</p>.<p>Many homes in the low-income neighborhoods where the fire occurred don't have running water and get their supply from tanker trucks a couple of times a week.</p>.<p>Wildfires have affected parts of Valparaiso several times in the last month as Chile contends with its worst drought on record. </p>
<p>Helicopters dropped thousands of gallons of water on the outskirts of the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday to extinguish a fire that destroyed more than 200 homes.</p>.<p>Dozens of people living in the city's Rocuant and San Roque hills sifted through the ruins of their homes after strong winds whipped the blaze through their neighborhoods Tuesday.</p>.<p>Residents had been evacuated and there were no reports of casualties.</p>.<p>The fire destroyed more than 200 homes and affected more than 1,000 people, Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker said Wednesday evening.</p>.<p>Earlier, Interior Minister Gonzalo Blumel said authorities believe arson caused the blaze and urged people to report any suspicious activity.</p>.<p>"We're not certain, but everything indicates that yesterday's fire was intentional, and began in an area quite close to the homes," said Ezio Passadore, emergency manager for Valparaíso.</p>.<p>The fire was doused in urban areas but remained “active” in the woods, said Ricardo Toro, head of Chile's national emergency office.</p>.<p>Many homes in the low-income neighborhoods where the fire occurred don't have running water and get their supply from tanker trucks a couple of times a week.</p>.<p>Wildfires have affected parts of Valparaiso several times in the last month as Chile contends with its worst drought on record. </p>