Wildfires burning near densely populated neighbourhoods in Quito (Ecuador's high-altitude Andean capital) have begun threatening homes, prompting local residents to join firefighters on the front lines. The blazes, reported on 14 September 2026, have pushed into areas where communities sit in close proximity to forested hillsides, raising the risk of significant property loss. The emergency highlights the growing vulnerability of Andean urban centres to fire during dry seasons, as climate pressures intensify across South America.