They used bulldozers to demolish the buildings while in flames in order to fight the fire at the historical district that is all wooden. It's a
miracle it did'nt spread.
This is really terrible. Thanks for letting us know, Ferna. I imagine that there are parallels here with Southern California developments in brush
areas, inasmuch as Santa Rosalia consists of so many old wooden structures jammed into a steep canyon.Skip_Mac - 3-19-2009 at 11:42 AM
Looking over the news photos, I was impressed by the photos showing many civilian volunteers involved in fighting the fire, moving hoses and filling
buckets with water. When the infrastructure is limited, people power must make up the difference or the community burns. Notable was a lack of
looting in the reports. I hope that holds up over time.
Congratulations to Santa Rosalia people and/or visitors who helped in this crisis. You encourage my sometimes challenged view that people are
basically good and will do the right thing in a crisis.
I would hope that it will be possible for the replacement building to be built of less fore prone construction and that Santa Rosallia may be a gem in
the future.fdt - 3-19-2009 at 11:52 AM
I to am very impressed, I never saw a bulldozer just go straight for the burning structure and fight it head on. That is what probably saved the rest
of the wood buildings.toneart - 3-19-2009 at 12:26 PM
Oh no! I hadn't heard about the fire. I think about fire everytime I am in Santa Rosalia. The whole of downtown is made of wooden structures. The
architecture of each building is unique and interesting. It reminds me of California Gold Rush towns that were built in the late 1800s. Many of Santa
Rosalia's buildings were built by the French Mining Industry. Maybe Pompano has some photos of the municipal buildings on the plaza. (?)
I suppose the fire fighting plan that was enacted was pre-planned for just such an event. They probably have experience with the bulldozers and the
mobilization of citizen help. Very impressive!Bajagypsy - 3-19-2009 at 12:42 PM
I'm very sad to hear of this fire. The buildings in Santa Rosalia are so unique and unlike anything you see in Baja. My hopes are that nobody was
seriously injured in this fire.fdt - 3-19-2009 at 01:08 PM
Not the best quality but here it is. On the first one you can see how people are trying to save what they can from the homes.
I will look and post them, Tony.
Pompano - 3-19-2009 at 01:08 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
Oh no! I hadn't heard about the fire. I think about fire everytime I am in Santa Rosalia. The whole of downtown is made of wooden structures. The
architecture of each building is unique and interesting. It reminds me of California Gold Rush towns that were built in the late 1800s. Many of Santa
Rosalia's buildings were built by the French Mining Industry. Maybe Pompano has some photos of the municipal buildings on the plaza. (?)
I suppose the fire fighting plan that was enacted was pre-planned for just such an event. They probably have experience with the bulldozers and the
mobilization of citizen help. Very impressive!
I just got back from Mulege and did not catch any talk yet about the fire at Sta. Rosalia, the city whose first nickname was Ciudad de Madera (city of
wood). That city has had it's share of blazes. Also several neighborhoods in the Mulege area. We are no strangers to fire around here.
Actually the practice of bulldozing a fire is not new by any means. We've used that manuever before to quickly get a handle on a blaze. It depends
on what is at hand and practical. Once I had to jump into a fire truck and drive it through a fence because the driver was too polite to drive
through it...hey, it was my fence, so I did it for him, then got to man the fire hose to fight some burning palapas in the adjacent lots.
Well, Tony..I found what I could..and here they are from my files. I will have more, but it will take some time to dust them off, so to speak. Most
of these pics will not show much of the residential areas, which look to be the hardest hit.
.
Sta. Rosalia:
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A somewhat similiar experience right next door:
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And then at Ana's Cafe, Santispac
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This one at Posada in The Bay happened a couple years ago, but a quick response from the Mulege Fire Dept saved the day. A long time ago I watched
pretty much the whole camp burn below me...a real blaze that was! Dozens of homes and RV's went up in an instant. All covered with palapa roofs.
.
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Edit to add: I just got a message from a Sta. Rosalia amigo and we will be driving there later tonight with some needed items. They are okay, thank
God, but some areas are a real mess. Will get back with any information we may learn.
[Edited on 3-19-2009 by Pompano]
How did the fire start?
Dave - 3-19-2009 at 01:34 PM
Pescador - 3-19-2009 at 02:40 PM
Thanks for the good info Ferna, I am stuck in Colorado but it feels like I am almost there. I have a friend who lives in that area, so will call him
right away and see how they made out. I have been around two fires in the area and the professionalism that I have witnessed was very good. The
Santa Rosalia department is very good and they train very well.
Wooden homes of Santa Rosalia
tripledigitken - 3-19-2009 at 03:30 PM
Here is a picture of a home in Santa Rosalia, a town unique in Baja because of all the wooden homes built by the French Mining Company.
I hope not too many were destroyed.
fdt - 3-19-2009 at 03:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
How did the fire start?
Reports say that it started at an internet café on the block of calle 8 and calle 9 between Constitucion and Carranza.TMW - 3-19-2009 at 05:14 PM
If you look at some of the electrical wiring along the streets it's a wonder there are not more fires all over Baja.DianaT - 3-19-2009 at 05:24 PM
That is so VERY sad---Santa Rosalia is such a beautiful town, and it is really sad for the families.
I also was impressed by the photos and how everyone seemed to help.
Thanks for the links, Ferna---sad, just really sad.
DianeBajahowodd - 3-19-2009 at 05:28 PM
Was someone at the internet cafe trying to export a hotlink?fdt - 3-19-2009 at 05:39 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Was someone at the internet cafe trying to export a hotlink?
Unofficial reports say that all pc's at the internet café were logged on to Baja Nomad and on the off topic forums at the same time and were all
posting fire smilies Bajahowodd - 3-19-2009 at 05:52 PM
Shame on you and me, Ferna.rts551 - 3-19-2009 at 06:05 PM
I have a friend on Calle 8. Have emailed to ask how things are. will post if I get a response soon. As said before that area is all very old
wooden structure and built very close together. Hope all is wellnancyinpdx - 3-19-2009 at 06:07 PM
Honestly this thread brings tears to my eyes.... it's very sad.
What a cute little town. Glad ppl responded so professionally, bravely, and selflessly.
[Edited on 3-20-2009 by nancyinpdx]Russ - 3-19-2009 at 06:33 PM
I've tried to work with some maps of Santa Rosalia and put an "X" where I think the internet cafe was. This is really a sad deal! I think around 4
years ago there was a fire that took out a whole block by the government offices. It's new and nice now. So after the pain maybe something nice will
follow.
Bob H - 3-19-2009 at 06:52 PM
Wow, how sad. But, thank goodness it was extinguisted quickly. It could have just been a lot worse.
We were in Mulege a few years ago when a fire broke out (behind Dony's I think)... a small wooden structure caught on fire and the palms starting
burning all around it. There were so many people helping the single fire truck help douse water out of five gallon buckets - seemed like hundredes of
them pitching in. It was amazing to watch.
Bob HPescador - 3-19-2009 at 07:05 PM
Russ, that should put it right at Olivia Canul's office. Her husband Syd is a long time resident of San Lucas Cove. She may be ok, since she is on
the east side of calle 8.wiltonh - 3-19-2009 at 07:05 PM
In 2002 I took this picture a few blocks from the fire.
Wilton
[Edited on 3-20-2009 by wiltonh]
[Edited on 3-20-2009 by wiltonh]
Russ - 3-19-2009 at 07:11 PM
Jim, I hope they are OK too. Also our friend Hector and his water business across the street. So many very nice /friendly people in the area.rts551 - 3-19-2009 at 07:13 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
Russ, that should put it right at Olivia Canul's office. Her husband Syd is a long time resident of San Lucas Cove. She may be ok, since she is on
the east side of calle 8.
Syd and Olivia would be a block to the south. on the east side of the roadRuss - 3-19-2009 at 07:43 PM
rts551, Yes. I just got the same report from neighbors that went to town today.toneart - 3-19-2009 at 08:00 PM
I talked to some people who were in Santa Rosalia today. They described the location as "a couple of blocks beyond the banks, turn left and it is 2
blocks down." They also said that a whole block was destroyed and that a school was right behind it." Apparently the school wasn't affected.
Sta. Rosalia Fire
Pompano - 3-20-2009 at 02:42 PM
Friday, March 20
This morning I drove from Coyote Bay up to Sta. Rosalia right after first light.
Ordinarily, I make that trip to buy fresh boleos, do some banking, and shop the variouis specialty stores available there..always a fun trip. This
one was not. The fire was pretty much a wipe-out for some families.
Between Calles 8 & 9 a couple blocks south of the Banamex and Bancomer corner.
.
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The fire was a devastating one for a friend. His home was one of 10 destroyed in a residential/commercial part of town near the center.
I was told that the fire started in an Internet tienda and was caused by too many computers overloading the electric system. It quicky spread to the
adjoining wooden homes and they were a total loss. Only quick action with heavy dozing equipment saved the remaining part of the block from going up
in flames.
A small backhoe with a bucket was busy leveling and clearing what was left of the fire's debris.
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As to how far Olivia Canul's office was from the blaze, the photo below was taken from her office doorway.
This is a tragic event, but not the worst that has happened to the City of Wood.
Let's hope that the local fire department gets needed equipment before the next conflageration..which is sure to happen.
In 2000, if my memory serves me, another firestorm claimed over 30 homes and structures..an area of 2 square blocks in the center of Sta. Rosalia.
[Edited on 3-21-2009 by Pompano]Pescador - 3-20-2009 at 04:36 PM
The blue house with the trucks that have tanks on the back is Hector and Marie's place where they sell treated water.Bajahowodd - 3-20-2009 at 04:44 PM
Many thanks, Pompano, for the update and great, if disturbing pictures.Russ - 3-20-2009 at 06:03 PM
Great report Pompano. Thanksfdt - 3-20-2009 at 06:31 PM
Thanks for the first hand report and pictures. I hope the people that lost theire homes can rebuild soon.bent-rim - 3-21-2009 at 09:39 AM
That's sad news about the fires. The French Mining Companies sent copper ore up to the San Francisco Bay Area and the ships returned with redwood
siding to build the buildings in Santa Rosalia. You can buy the siding in lumber yards up here. I like how they mimic the look of the redwood siding
when they build cement walls in Santa Rosalia.
