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bajajudy
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80% of Estuary burned-Pictures added
At 7 last night when we left the house to feed the arroyo dogs, we noticed a fire in the farthest palms of the estuary. The winds were at about 15mph
and whipping the flames along at an alarming rate. By 8 the fire was dangerously close to the sales office of Puerto Los Cabos. The fire raged on as
fire departments from as far away as La Paz came to help. The pipas were racing in and out with water. Any of you who have been to my place know
that we are very close to this area. We were fortunate that the wind was not out of the south or southeast and we never actually even smelled smoke
but watching a horrendous fire no more than a quarter of a mile away with high winds was unnerving. I doubt that they will let us down to the beach
today but, if so, I will take some photos
Here is an article in spanish which I haven included for the photos if nothing else.
http://www.tribunadeloscabos.com.mx/newpage/index.cfm?op=por...
[Edited on 8-22-2009 by bajajudy]
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bajajudy
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Just took a tour of my yard. Large ashes all over it. Went upstairs and there are places that I can now see the sea where there once were palms.
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Cardon Man
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That's very sad and unfortunate news Judy.
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DrTom
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i hope no one was hurt. but actually, a burn which happens in nature all the time is good from a biological point of view, it just takes a
while....the estuary will come back quick.
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wilderone
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"a burn which happens in nature" ??
Mose likely caused by stupid humans. The estuary will still be an estuary in some way, shape or form, however, it will never be as it was.
Biologically, it is changed. During the time it takes for the palms to grow and provide shade, all the plants, water, animals needing and thriving on
the palm's shade in the past will change; other changes will occur, adapting to the ash and turbidity; lack of food; natural seeding; nesting habitat
gone, one species overtaking a species that requires more time or conditions that don't exist now; etc.
It will never be as it was.
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Crusoe
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Wow!!!! What a shocking expierience!!!...When old palm trees burn its really bad news for lots of animals. That habitat is there homes. From
Butterflies to Owls to Vultures. Every thing is intertwined.Also other trees and shrubs usually burn also, which is feed for other animals and plants.
Could have been a lighting stike but doubtful. Did the dogs get fed? ++C++
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bajajudy
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We decided not to try to go to the beach over by the estuary, thinking that they may still be cleaning up. We went over to the La Playita side and
from there I would have to say that it looks like the estimation of 80% may be high. From the fishing tables you cannot see any burnt palms. There
was a bit of ashes in the water where we swim but again not as many as one would expect.
My GUESS would be that this was human caused. We had no lightening but, as I said, very strong winds.
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bajajudy
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| Quote: | | Originally posted by CrusoeDid the dogs get fed? ++C++ |
Yes!
There were so many vehicles racing around that I led them up under the bridge, whistling and shaking the cup with the food in it. Once they were all
gathered around me, I fed them and told them to stay out of the way. They said, Si Senora.
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
"a burn which happens in nature" ??
Mose likely caused by stupid humans. The estuary will still be an estuary in some way, shape or form, however, it will never be as it was.
Biologically, it is changed. During the time it takes for the palms to grow and provide shade, all the plants, water, animals needing and thriving on
the palm's shade in the past will change; other changes will occur, adapting to the ash and turbidity; lack of food; natural seeding; nesting habitat
gone, one species overtaking a species that requires more time or conditions that don't exist now; etc.
It will never be as it was. |
A burn doesn't necessarily kill a grove off palms. I have seen many such fires
occur in the Todos Santos area where the trees were not killed.
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DianaT
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Judy,
Really happy that you were safe, but really sorry for the fire overall. Thanks for the report.
Diane
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Cypress
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bajajudy, Thanks for the report. In some places, fire is a force of nature that is an important component of the ecosystem, not in an estuarian palm
forest. Those burns take many years to recover.
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djh
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Plant palms ??
Hi Judy,
Sorry you lost your nice shady estuary cover.
Do you suppose that you and other neighbors who love the estuary could plant some small palms to help start the recovery and healing process?
From a human standpoint ~ it helps to put feelings into action... in this case the sense of loss into some restorative steps. It might help..
From a biological standpoint ~ before the area dries out so much from loss of the canopy and shade, it might be the best time to get some young palms
started ? ? ?
Just a thought I thought I'd share.
djh
Its all just stuff and some numbers.
A day spent sailing isn\'t deducted from one\'s life.
Peace, Love, and Music
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motoged
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
Stuff burns then regrows. It is a natural cycle. It is the totally aggressive suppression of fires that leads to the catastrophic fires that people
freak out about.
| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
"a burn which happens in nature" ??
Mose likely caused by stupid humans. |
Spoulpatch,
Correctomundo !! Up here in British Columbia we have had catastrophic forest fires this year and several years ago...and the forestry experts concur
that to let some fires burn is the plan....what humans need to do to stop property damage is to clean up the "fuel" that litters forests near
buildings/development so as to reduce cost to humans.
As for the faun and flora, it tends to balance itself out according to nature's Big Plan....
It is certainly disturbing to witness such fires and consider the life-forms lost...but it is a reminder of our relative insignificance as humans and
our relationship with forces often beyond our control....
Planting a few palms may be a good idea....as is trimming the dead and dry fronds (fuel). |
Don't believe everything you think....
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Mexitron
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Couldn't quite tell from the photo what kind of palms those were--if its the San Jose Hesper--Brahea brandegii--then its native to the area. If its
the Mexican Fan Palm--Washingtonia robusta--then its not really native to the site anyway (and has been declared an invasive pest in California, if
anyone's being a purist). Either way, those palms tend to survive fires quite well, so there probably isn't any need to plant small ones...wait to
see if the existing ones resprout.
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Bajahowodd
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Or maybe God was sending a message to the folks at Grupo Questro.
[Edited on 8-20-2009 by Bajahowodd]
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexitron
Couldn't quite tell from the photo what kind of palms those were--if its the San Jose Hesper--Brahea brandegii--then its native to the area. If its
the Mexican Fan Palm--Washingtonia robusta--then its not really native to the site anyway (and has been declared an invasive pest in California, if
anyone's being a purist). Either way, those palms tend to survive fires quite well, so there probably isn't any need to plant small ones...wait to
see if the existing ones resprout. |
So, who went around sowing all the Robusta seeds in the lower Colorado Desert areas of SoCal? Palm Springs, Borrego, etc. What has made it non-native?
Just asking, 'cause sometimes I think common sense has been declared an invasive pest in California.
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Crusoe
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Soulpatch and Motoged....You must understand one simple thing. A forest fire in a British Columbia forest which is comprised of many different types
of trees,such as Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock,Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, White Pines, Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Madrona ( Arbutis), Yew, Tamarack,
and Juniper and that forest recieves from 30 to over 130 inches of rain in one year has a completely different enviro.scenario than a very dry desert
environment which in a good year, gets 6 inches of rain in a normal year, and all of that in 2-3 months if they are lucky. You cannot "say let her
burn-Its a natural cycle" because they are two complete opposite comparisons. I have watched Palm trees burn in Baja and it is scary!!!! If a fire is
a bad one it will take some time for it to return to normal. Not a good event! ++C++
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Cypress
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Crusoe
Soulpatch and Motoged....You must understand one simple thing. A forest fire in a British Columbia forest which is comprised of many different types
of trees,such as Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock,Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, White Pines, Alder, Big Leaf Maple, Madrona ( Arbutis), Yew, Tamarack,
and Juniper and that forest recieves from 30 to over 130 inches of rain in one year has a completely different enviro.scenario than a very dry desert
environment which in a good year, gets 6 inches of rain in a normal year, and all of that in 2-3 months if they are lucky. You cannot "say let her
burn-Its a natural cycle" because they are two complete opposite comparisons. I have watched Palm trees burn in Baja and it is scary!!!! If a fire is
a bad one it will take some time for it to return to normal. Not a good event! ++C++ |
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bajajudy
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More in Spanish on the fire
http://www.tribunadeloscabos.com.mx/newpage/index.cfm?op=por...
I will not attempt to translate but the estimated area has been reduced to 50% and one sentence says that a glass bottle with the sun on it can start
a fire.
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Taco de Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexitron
Couldn't quite tell from the photo what kind of palms those were--if its the San Jose Hesper--Brahea brandegii--then its native to the area. If its
the Mexican Fan Palm--Washingtonia robusta--then its not really native to the site anyway (and has been declared an invasive pest in California, if
anyone's being a purist). Either way, those palms tend to survive fires quite well, so there probably isn't any need to plant small ones...wait to
see if the existing ones resprout. |
So, who went around sowing all the Robusta seeds in the lower Colorado Desert areas of SoCal? Palm Springs, Borrego, etc. What has made it non-native?
Just asking, 'cause sometimes I think common W. robusta sense has been declared an invasive pest in California. |
Birds, and Coyotes plant many of the W. robusta seeds. Also many of the "fan palms" in the lower Colorado are W. filifera....which
are native to the area…And are actually the only palm native to the US west of Texas.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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