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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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Firefighters in Mexico
In all the pictures I've seen posted about the fires south of the border, in the last couple of days, I have yet to see a firetruck or men to man the
truck. Does the country have paid firefighters or volunteers, or...?
Do they just let the fire burn itself out? Any usual loss of life in serious fires? Are citizens expected to fight their own fores?
Is there anyway to keep up to date on the fires in Mexico other than this forum? Not much reporting done on this side of the border. Altlhough I did
hear on the news late last night that TJ did offer electricity to the states if needed.
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Bajaboy
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Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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and TJ also provided fire trucks and fire fighters...muchas gracias!
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dccf
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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Gotta be a reply to my question enen if it's just to point out my ignorance. I've never been to Mexico before and am making plans. AWWWW come on!
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
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Reply was only meant to point out how generous Tijuana and Mexico has been during this crisis. Pretty amazing and cool in my mind.
Zac
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13043
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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Here in the coastal villages we do not have even a volunteer fire department or a fire truck...what we have is Proteccion Civil..which is a volunteer
group of people who respond to any emergency like fire, search and rescue, floods, earthquakes, sickness, and also help our tiny police force during
events like parades, races, fiestas etc. But in any emergency everyone does what they can here to help.
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
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Mood: Bajatastic
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To answer your question, yes. Mexico does have firefighters.
Every large city has several stations just like anywhere else in the world. They have fires here in Mexicali almost daily. They also respond to auto
accidents, etc. When it comes to rural areas firefighter coverage depends.
In some areas they may have wildland fire crews; for example there is a fire station near Laguna Hansen, which is pretty much the middle of nowhere;
but, is a Mexican national park. Thus, the fire crews there protect the park.
In smaller rural towns, just like in the USA, there is often no money to staff a full time station for the village. When a fire breaks out the locals
band together and form bucket brigades and do the best they can with what they have.
In general, the response will be less than what you are used to and the equipment will be older. You have to think of Baja as Mexico's Alaska. It's
not like many people worry too much in the USA if 10,000 acres burn in the Alaskan wilderness; but, if it were to burn in or near Anchorage... it
would be a different story. Baja has a very low population compared to the rest of Mexico, so not many resources will be devoted to stop fires unless
they directly threaten cities.
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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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Seems with all the dry brush and low rainfall, fires would be a real problem. Do the people realize the threat and work hard to keep fires from
starting or have they just been lucky?
Again the pictures I've seen while lurking here over the last several months don't show "any" fire damage from previous fires.
One post I read last night says there are no trees on Baja because the mexicans cut them all down and used them for firewood!! Is there any truth to
that??
[Edited on 10-24-2007 by dccf]
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dccf
In all the pictures I've seen posted about the fires south of the border, in the last couple of days, I have yet to see a firetruck or men to man the
truck. Does the country have paid firefighters or volunteers, or...?
Do they just let the fire burn itself out? Any usual loss of life in serious fires? Are citizens expected to fight their own fores?
Is there anyway to keep up to date on the fires in Mexico other than this forum? Not much reporting done on this side of the border. Altlhough I did
hear on the news late last night that TJ did offer electricity to the states if needed. |
Answers:
#1.- As for pictures of firefighters or firetrucks available, there are "plenty", you are probably not looking in the right places. I will speek about
the city were I am right now, Tijuana and we have volunteers and paid firefighters and the least paid one here makes over $1,100 USD monthly plus
beefits and you can find the entire payrol here http://www.tijuana.gob.mx/Transparencia/Nomina.asp
Go to Bomberos y proteccion civil.
#2 Same as in the US or any other country, some fires are expected or allowed to burn themselves out or are just inaccesible to fight as we all saw
with these fires because of the elements. Yes there sometimes is loss of life. No, we are not expected to fight our own fires (I think that's what
you meant). Tijuana has 12 fire stations and 3 more are beeing constructed with an investment or cost of aprox. 400,000 dollars.
#3.- Regretfully there is not a very efficient news agency in the entire country, we here are also very limmited as for information. It litteraly
sucks for up to date or accurate info. be it radio or TV. As for the offer of electricity to San Diego, yes, it is correct and currently we have 34
Tijuana firefighters in San Diego County along with 5 firetrucks helping out were they are most needed, they went along with volunteers and
paramedics.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
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Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dccf
One post I read last night says there are no trees on Baja because the mexicans cut them all down and used them for firewood!! Is there any truth to
that??
[Edited on 10-24-2007 by dccf] |
I'm certain it was a joke.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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The chain of sierras which run through Baja have high desert to alpine growth. Huge, beautiful pines in the higher areas. All protected as well.
Having a chainsaw at Laguna Hanson would be like having a machine gun in Ensenada.
Baja doesn't have U.S. type resources to fight country fires so they don't try unless houses and lives are threatened. Then, they act as swiftly as
possible. The efforts seen here the last couple of days were admirable. The volunteers were heroic. Lives and houses were saved and most of these
guys and gals, Americans as well, don't make anything that I know of. God bless them all.
[Edited on 10-24-2007 by DENNIS]
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backninedan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 865
Registered: 3-8-2003
Location: Loreto
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We have several horse drawn hand pump fire trucks here in Loreto, if you come this way please bring them some hay and oats.
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gibson
Banned
Posts: 250
Registered: 2-6-2007
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hispanola (sp)
| Quote: | Originally posted by dccf
One post I read last night says there are no trees on Baja because the mexicans cut them all down and used them for firewood!! Is there any truth to
that??
[Edited on 10-24-2007 by dccf] |
dat be Hiati (sp) !
[Edited on 10-24-2007 by gibson]
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MrsFDT
Junior Nomad
Posts: 86
Registered: 5-1-2006
Location: State of Confusion
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Come on guys, DCCF is asking genuine questions. I think Mango hit on the head, with the Alaska analolgy.
Im from a very very tiny town in Kentucky called Hyden: population 1500 while I was growing up and all it was were volanteers with a rusty ol pump
wagon and shovels, I think...
But come to think of it I can never recall ever having fires and im talking forest and mountains stretching to forever.
(must be why all the firemen were all beer bellied old men)
Anyway the point is small towns anywhere are pretty much the same when it comes to fighting fires.
backnineden: Do you think they would let me pet the horsies, when I get a chance to get back there? I'll certainly bring some oats.
God, I wish this thing had spell check......
Following FDT wherever the Baja wind takes him.... That is, if its going in the same direction I am.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrsFDT
God, I wish this thing had spell check...... |
Well, Simone, we do have Smell Check. We monitor each other.
What was the problem with my reply?
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MrsFDT
Junior Nomad
Posts: 86
Registered: 5-1-2006
Location: State of Confusion
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| Quote: | Well, Simone, we do have Smell Check. We monitor each other.
What was the problem with my reply? |
Your too funny . I dont know if I want smell check, that may have some good
points to it, but uhhh... well you know, I guess things like poopy come to mind, rather than roses. I must be a pesimist,  Or could be the dozen or so dogs I own and my mental image is of their version of
smell check.
Oh and your reply was wonderful and I also agree with it,
I was just thinking of short and sweet explanations when I commented on the posts.
Following FDT wherever the Baja wind takes him.... That is, if its going in the same direction I am.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrsFDT
God, I wish this thing had spell check...... |
Use Firefox and it has a built in spell checker!
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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Thanks for all your responses. Seems like some folks tell you to ask questions, then others flame you. Just gotta do my own filtering I guess.
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Oso
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2637
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: on da border
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Mood: wait and see
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BTW, yes there are Mexican firefighters and unlike the police, they enjoy a very high level of public respect. Yes, some police also save lives and
risk their own and are not corrupt. But the bad apples create the impression of endemic corruption in the minds of most Mexicans. This is not so
regarding the Bomberos. True, the opportunity for mordidas etc. is not there on the same level, but the respect is genuine. Riding the buses in the
D.F., many times I would see a uniformed fireman get on board while the driver put his hand over the fare box refusing payment.
If you watch Mexican TV, don't miss Cantinflas in El Bombero Atómico. It'll come around sooner or later, all 1940's B&W Cantinflas
movies are on a continuous loop.
All my childhood I wanted to be older. Now I\'m older and this chitn sucks.
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dccf
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 10-20-2007
Location: S. Cal
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OSO,
Can I get mexican TV on the net??
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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dccf..........
Who flamed you? You started crying after Bajaboy's first response to your question. If you can't handel answers, in this case good ones, don't ask.
Go to BloodyDecks and wallow in the muck.
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