Another fire in Paamul last night

**Heather** · 03-21-2008

At about 2.30 am I got a text message from Susie Q Roo saying there was another fire in Paamul.

I've been trying to call her all day and couldn't get through so I was really worried and called Chief Brian Borjesson of the Bomberos. Brian confirmed there was a fire, but that no one was hurt and only one palapa was lost. He said the firemen arrived quickly and got the situation under control right away, which most likely spared lots of other palapas.

Some of you might remember that 4 years ago there was a devastating fire in Paamul that took out 18 or 20 homes.

I'm so grateful that no one was hurt and the loss was minimal (though the poor soul whose home was lost probably is devastated). Please keep them in your prayers today.

This just hammered home to me the importance of supporting our local firemen, and I'm so honored to be a part of this community. There's a fundraiser going on tomorrow, a Three Legged Bar Crawl, to benefit the Riviera Maya Bomberos, so please donate if you haven't already.

**Mindbender** · 03-21-2008

Sorry to hear the bad news.

Glad to hear nobody was hurt.

bedeaway · 03-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

At about 2.30 am I got a text message from Susie Q Roo saying there was another fire in Paamul.

I've been trying to call her all day and couldn't get through so I was really worried and called Chief Brian Borjesson of the Bomberos. Brian confirmed there was a fire, but that no one was hurt and only one palapa was lost. He said the firemen arrived quickly and got the situation under control right away, which most likely spared lots of other palapas.

Some of you might remember that 4 years ago there was a devastating fire in Paamul that took out 18 or 20 homes.

I'm so grateful that no one was hurt and the loss was minimal (though the poor soul whose home was lost probably is devastated). Please keep them in your prayers today.

This just hammered home to me the importance of supporting our local firemen, and I'm so honored to be a part of this community. There's a fundraiser going on tomorrow, a Three Legged Bar Crawl, to benefit the Riviera Maya Bomberos, so please donate if you haven't already.

Thanks for the info Heather. I'm glad everyone is safe. Knowing what good souls Rick and Susie are - I'm sure they are out helping in some way. Don't worry.

u2girlie · 03-21-2008

That's too bad but luckily everyone is safe. Palapas can be replaced!

**Heather** · 03-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by u2girlie

That's too bad but luckily everyone is safe. Palapas can be replaced!

I should clarify that these people most likely lost much, if not all, of their home.

In Paamul, the trailers/livings spaces are under palapas, so it's likely that they lost all of that, not just the palapa roof.

But you're exactly right, it's just stuff, and stuff can be replaced!

Babaloo · 03-21-2008

we just now got power restored
this is our biggest fear in Paamul...fire with acres and acres of dry tinder palapas
An electrical line, due to the salt water on the line and the light rain, began arcing and caught the palapa on fire.
Before the bomberos arrived, we scavenged all of the fire extinguishers we could find (30 to 40) and attempts were made to fight the fire, but with little success. And a couple local heros experienced some pretty intense jolts when they got a bit too close to the downed lines.
When the bomberos arrived, they attempted to douse the flames, but they too were experiencing some wicked shocks.
Eventually the power was cut and the fire was brought under control.
Five trucks and crews were here to fight the fire.
We are thankful for the sudden decrease in winds last night, the light rain just before the fire and, of course, the bomberos which no doubt saved us from something potentially devastating.
Give it up folks for the bomberos!!

this will give you an idea how much ash was in the air

**Heather** · 03-21-2008

Oh, Rick, how terrible. Thank you for posting, I'm so glad you are all ok and that no one was hurt. I think it's a miracle that the palapas next door to this huge blaze didn't catch! Thank God!

bedeaway · 03-21-2008

OMG! That is scary. I fear fire. And I live in a cinder block house. I can't imagine what you guys must have been feeling. Glad you are safe!

OH and

Bomberos!

u2girlie · 03-21-2008

Wow! As you describe it, dry tinder and an electrical fire is a worst case scenario for you guys in Paamul.

Gus · 03-21-2008

Wow...I know my buddy Jeff and the infamous Jaime were just there. Hope everything is okay, and things can get back to normal quickly.

myhappyplace2 · 03-21-2008

You and Susie are safe and sound I hope. Was anyone living in the palapa at the time of the fire? Those bomberos are awesome.

Babaloo · 03-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by myhappyplace2

You and Susie are safe and sound I hope. Was anyone living in the palapa at the time of the fire? Those bomberos are awesome.

yes..a Canadian couple were sleeping. They were heading back to Canada this morning so they had the windows boarded up until their return next fall. They couldn't see or hear anything. Just across the road, some Mexicans on holiday saw what was happening and ran over and pounded on their door to get them out. Good thing those guys were playing cards outside at 3 in the morning.

**Heather** · 03-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

yes..a Canadian couple were sleeping. They were heading back to Canada this morning so they had the windows boarded up until their return next fall. They couldn't see or hear anything. Just across the road, some Mexicans on holiday saw what was happening and ran over and pounded on their door to get them out. Good thing those guys were playing cards outside at 3 in the morning.

Oh, that gave me goosebumps. Thank heaven.

**Susie Q Roo** · 03-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

Oh, Rick, how terrible. Thank you for posting, I'm so glad you are all ok and that no one was hurt. I think it's a miracle that the palapas next door to this huge blaze didn't catch! Thank God!

Actually, each of the adjoining palapas suffered some fire damage as well. The neighbors were out in force helping everyone clean up this morning. It's all fixable, thank goodness.

We did hear that the one that suffered the most damage had fire-treated their palapa roof. Apparently, this made a HUGE difference as it took a very long time for the flames to make much progress on it. I think if it hadn't been, the damage would have been MUCH more widespread than it was. The bomberos definitely need all the help they can get as there was only one nozzle between the two trucks that first arrived - someone had stolen the other.

Once they got going strong though, they did an excellent job. Yay, Playa Bomberos!

Scary, scary night.

EDIT: And Heather, my phone battery was dying and we didn't have power, so that's why you couldn't reach me - sorry!

Buggirl · 03-21-2008

Wow, those photos are scary. I'm so glad no one was hurt- I'm sure it could have been much worse....

Great job to the bomberos

but also how great is it that so many people turned out to help- you have some quality neighbors there in Paamul....

(and to whoever stole the nozzle off the fire truck- what a pile of

)

03-21-2008	#1 (permalink)
Heather Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 8,438	Another fire in Paamul last night At about 2.30 am I got a text message from Susie Q Roo saying there was another fire in Paamul. I've been trying to call her all day and couldn't get through so I was really worried and called Chief Brian Borjesson of the Bomberos. Brian confirmed there was a fire, but that no one was hurt and only one palapa was lost. He said the firemen arrived quickly and got the situation under control right away, which most likely spared lots of other palapas. Some of you might remember that 4 years ago there was a devastating fire in Paamul that took out 18 or 20 homes. I'm so grateful that no one was hurt and the loss was minimal (though the poor soul whose home was lost probably is devastated). Please keep them in your prayers today. This just hammered home to me the importance of supporting our local firemen, and I'm so honored to be a part of this community. There's a fundraiser going on tomorrow, a Three Legged Bar Crawl, to benefit the Riviera Maya Bomberos, so please donate if you haven't already.

03-21-2008	#6 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Paamul, Q Roo Mexico Posts: 9,959	we just now got power restored this is our biggest fear in Paamul...fire with acres and acres of dry tinder palapas An electrical line, due to the salt water on the line and the light rain, began arcing and caught the palapa on fire. Before the bomberos arrived, we scavenged all of the fire extinguishers we could find (30 to 40) and attempts were made to fight the fire, but with little success. And a couple local heros experienced some pretty intense jolts when they got a bit too close to the downed lines. When the bomberos arrived, they attempted to douse the flames, but they too were experiencing some wicked shocks. Eventually the power was cut and the fire was brought under control. Five trucks and crews were here to fight the fire. We are thankful for the sudden decrease in winds last night, the light rain just before the fire and, of course, the bomberos which no doubt saved us from something potentially devastating. Give it up folks for the bomberos!! this will give you an idea how much ash was in the air Last edited by Babaloo : 03-21-2008 at 03:07 PM.

03-21-2008	#8 (permalink)
bedeaway beachaholic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Trappe, PA Posts: 382	OMG! That is scary. I fear fire. And I live in a cinder block house. I can't imagine what you guys must have been feeling. Glad you are safe! OH and Bomberos! Last edited by bedeaway : 03-21-2008 at 03:14 PM.

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03-21-2008	#2 (permalink)
Mindbender Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 2,905	Sorry to hear the bad news. Glad to hear nobody was hurt.

03-21-2008	#4 (permalink)
u2girlie Life=Playa (almost) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut for now but someday Mexico Posts: 637	That's too bad but luckily everyone is safe. Palapas can be replaced!

03-21-2008	#7 (permalink)
Heather Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 8,438	Oh, Rick, how terrible. Thank you for posting, I'm so glad you are all ok and that no one was hurt. I think it's a miracle that the palapas next door to this huge blaze didn't catch! Thank God!

03-21-2008	#9 (permalink)
u2girlie Life=Playa (almost) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut for now but someday Mexico Posts: 637	Wow! As you describe it, dry tinder and an electrical fire is a worst case scenario for you guys in Paamul.

03-21-2008	#10 (permalink)
Gus beachaholic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nevada Posts: 435	Wow...I know my buddy Jeff and the infamous Jaime were just there. Hope everything is okay, and things can get back to normal quickly.

03-21-2008	#11 (permalink)
myhappyplace2 añejo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The big D with some other kool peeps> Posts: 2,705	You and Susie are safe and sound I hope. Was anyone living in the palapa at the time of the fire? Those bomberos are awesome.

03-21-2008	#15 (permalink)
Buggirl añejo Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: beautiful, sunny Maahtha's Vineyahd Posts: 1,799	Wow, those photos are scary. I'm so glad no one was hurt- I'm sure it could have been much worse.... Great job to the bomberos but also how great is it that so many people turned out to help- you have some quality neighbors there in Paamul.... (and to whoever stole the nozzle off the fire truck- what a pile of )

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