BajaNomad

Fire in San Miguel de Comondu

Kencito - 5-25-2015 at 08:28 AM

Sorry to see that a pretty big fire swept through San Miguel and San Jose. Lots of folks lost their homes.

http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/incendio-en-san-miguel-y-san-jose-...

David K - 5-25-2015 at 08:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Kencito  
Sorry to see that a pretty big fire swept through San Miguel and San Jose. Lots of folks lost their homes.

http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/incendio-en-san-miguel-y-san-jose-...


How sad! Thanks for the link... several photos show the fire in progress.

motoged - 5-25-2015 at 10:00 AM

Heartbreaking :(

Two villages that are true gems of Baja....I trust that their resilience will propel them forward.

TMW - 5-25-2015 at 10:21 AM

Sad it is, it was a beautiful place to visit.

shari - 5-25-2015 at 10:36 AM

Oh NO!!! this really breaks my heart as it was my all time favorite place in Baja and was unique in it's historical preservation of the era. I hope they rebuild in the same style but one can never replace the original structures. Many of the residents are elder folks so this will most likely mean a change of address for them unfortunately.....simply tragic.

Here is an album of photos for those of you who havent had the pleasure of seeing it before.

http://s385.photobucket.com/user/blowhole1/library/trip%20to...

rts551 - 5-25-2015 at 10:44 AM

19 year old gringo arrested for starting it. Derek Matthew Selvy Lingle. over 200 people out of their homes.

http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/identifican-al-presunto-responsabl...

[Edited on 5-25-2015 by rts551]

Pompano - 5-25-2015 at 10:53 AM

A sad day, indeed, for that peaceful village. Camped in the town square in 1975 with old amigo, Blackjack of earlier Gardner expeditions to that area. The villagers recognized Blackjack and welcomed all of us with a friendliness that instantly captured our hearts.

Godspeed to a quick recovery.

U.S. citizen?

David K - 5-25-2015 at 11:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by rts551  
19 year old gringo arrested for starting it. Derek Matthew Selvy Lingle. over 200 people out of their homes.

http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/identifican-al-presunto-responsabl...

[Edited on 5-25-2015 by rts551]


By 'gringo' you mean a non-Mexican? That link calls him an 'alien' and gives his name as Derek Matthew Selvy Lingle (4?). I don't think it matters what country he was born in, it was a terrible thing and the full extent of the law should be applied.

rts551 - 5-25-2015 at 11:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by rts551  
19 year old gringo arrested for starting it. Derek Matthew Selvy Lingle. over 200 people out of their homes.

http://www.bcsnoticias.mx/identifican-al-presunto-responsabl...

[Edited on 5-25-2015 by rts551]


By 'gringo' you mean a non-Mexican? That link calls him an 'alien' and gives his name as Derek Matthew Selvy Lingle (4?). I don't think it matters what country he was born in, it was a terrible thing and the full extent of the law should be applied.

Trolling again? He is a gringo originating from Arizona. Has been in Comondu before. Selvy is a misspelling. It is Selby. and extranjero translates to foreigner if you do not use the translator.

chuckie - 5-25-2015 at 11:37 AM

Was arrested in Comundu in 2012 for something....

rts551.....Trolling?

AKgringo - 5-25-2015 at 11:45 AM

Rts, you ended your statement 'Trolling again' with a question mark, so I will answer it. Yes, you are trolling.
DK, don't take the bait, your comments were appropriate based on the article that was posted.
I also hope that the 19 year old is held accountable, and hope there is some relief for the folks in the Comandu's. They are on my list of places to visit in October, perhaps i will be able to help their economy a little.

rts551 - 5-25-2015 at 12:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
Rts, you ended your statement 'Trolling again' with a question mark, so I will answer it. Yes, you are trolling.
DK, don't take the bait, your comments were appropriate based on the article that was posted.
I also hope that the 19 year old is held accountable, and hope there is some relief for the folks in the Comandu's. They are on my list of places to visit in October, perhaps i will be able to help their economy a little.


Now you are trolling as well. He quoted my post and really had nothing to add. Yours does nothing but try to side with DK.

rts551 - 5-25-2015 at 12:09 PM

Chuckie. It appears he was in a land dispute (as a minor) with the Ejido.

carlosg - 5-25-2015 at 12:37 PM

....pos, sob!!!! throw him in jail and throw the key away after he's made responsible for ll the damage he's done to the community... 8km and 400,000 palm trees later? Here in SD last year a teen started the Coco's Fire and whether or not she was held responsible she was taken to court, the big difference is that here everyone (?) has insurance, down in Baja not so, and specially not in a community like Comondú. What can we Baja enthusiasts do about this?

chuckie - 5-25-2015 at 01:16 PM

I don't think we can do anything about it. Mexican justice will run its course. A Visit to that wonderful old area and spending some money would help..I have so many great pics of that place, from 20-30 years ago......So sad....

motoged - 5-25-2015 at 04:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by carlosg  
What can we Baja enthusiasts do about this?



Perhaps we could get some more specific info about the cause of fire before we hang the guy.

Accidental or intentional?

The key issue is the hardship for the locals as vehicles and houses were lost....those looking for a pound of flesh aren't too helpful for the locals at this time.

Perhaps some relief funding could be started by someone so inclined and willing to carry out such a task.

woody with a view - 5-25-2015 at 04:11 PM

that kid looks pretty scrawny! can't say if there would be an entire pound of flesh to pass around to all of those affected.....

elgatoloco - 5-25-2015 at 04:16 PM

That is a shame. Truly a beautifully unique area. Felt a bit like living history when we were there. We will never forget our visit. Hope that the community can recover.

Fire in San Miguel comondu

Sjsam - 5-25-2015 at 04:20 PM

Go idea how about all the politicos looking for votes all over the county? I'm sure they will be the frist ones to get up there and help out.

Bajahowodd - 5-25-2015 at 04:50 PM

Quote: Originally posted by motoged  
Quote: Originally posted by carlosg  
What can we Baja enthusiasts do about this?



Perhaps we could get some more specific info about the cause of fire before we hang the guy.

Accidental or intentional?

The key issue is the hardship for the locals as vehicles and houses were lost....those looking for a pound of flesh aren't too helpful for the locals at this time.

Perhaps some relief funding could be started by someone so inclined and willing to carry out such a task.


Good point. And even if it was intentional, I'd ask if he was in a sound state of mind. There are just so many crazy people wandering about these days.

carlosg - 5-25-2015 at 05:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Bajahowodd  
Quote: Originally posted by motoged  
Quote: Originally posted by carlosg  
What can we Baja enthusiasts do about this?



Perhaps we could get some more specific info about the cause of fire before we hang the guy.

Accidental or intentional?

The key issue is the hardship for the locals as vehicles and houses were lost....those looking for a pound of flesh aren't too helpful for the locals at this time.

Perhaps some relief funding could be started by someone so inclined and willing to carry out such a task.


Good point. And even if it was intentional, I'd ask if he was in a sound state of mind. There are just so many crazy people wandering about these days.


Seems like the kid is not in a good state of mind according to the following post:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=...

NOTE: Where it reads "foreign" in English it reads "strange" in the Spanish original post: http://elinformantebcs.mx/identifican-al-culpable-del-incend...

fdt - 5-26-2015 at 01:26 AM

Very sad indeed.
here a couple of video links I found
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0mNyzPkUU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsxEb1czRc

And BTW Alien in Spanish would be something like an extraterrestrial, the word extranjero is refering to a foreigner.

elgatoloco - 5-26-2015 at 09:45 AM

:no:

Sweetwater - 5-26-2015 at 05:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by elgatoloco  
That is a shame. Truly a beautifully unique area. Felt a bit like living history when we were there. We will never forget our visit. Hope that the community can recover.


I can not echo your sentiments enough. I was stunned by both the community and it's setting. That is an area I have looked forward to another visit in the future and hope they can recover.....

motoged - 5-26-2015 at 11:04 PM

I am glad I could visit twice in the past several years....first time when DT Bushpilot and I rode in a few years ago..and last time this January when I delivered a sharpening stone for the fellow who makes palm furniture (thanks Cisco).

Scroll down on this link to see La Purisma and Los Comondus (page 6 and 7 of ride report):

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=666961&page=6

some samples....
















And I will go back again next time down....it is a magical place with some elements of mystery for me

[Edited on 5-27-2015 by motoged]

[Edited on 5-27-2015 by motoged]

motoged - 5-27-2015 at 10:49 AM

Has anybody heard any recent updates as to how the community is doing since the fire....?

Comondu's fires

baja Steve - 6-2-2015 at 07:42 AM


u tube of fires a few days ago


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0mNyzPkUU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsxEb1czRc

durrelllrobert - 6-2-2015 at 08:45 AM

Why were the protestors hurting their own people?

Cypress 2 - 6-2-2015 at 11:37 AM

The arsonist should be locked up in that little jail there and let out only to assist residents in their recovery.

motoged - 6-2-2015 at 12:18 PM

My Spanish is not good enough to get the narrative of that second video....can anyone give a brief synopsis , please.....:?:

BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 02:01 PM

it says that the fire lasted 12hours
that the people tried to put it out but couldn't
terrible loss of houses -cars - agriculture - cattle


main problem is lack of cell phone service to call for help
and very high winds and something else that I didn't quite catch?

the elec company is working nonstop to recover power

they show a womans house that burned to the ground

a doc says that some people needed oxygen

230 people evacuated
40+ houses damaged
5 vehicles total loss
10 people hurt by the smoke
160 hectars burned and no one knows how it happened yet


BajaBlanca - 6-2-2015 at 02:03 PM

I watched the other video which shows the fire in progress...poor people.....what a terrible disaster.

motoged - 6-2-2015 at 03:11 PM

Quote: Originally posted by durrelllrobert  
Why were the protestors hurting their own people?


Bob,
Where did you get that info? As well (for others, not just Bob), where does the "arson" fit into the tragic fire?