Guanaja Fire Devastates the Island
In the early hours of this morning, a huge fire began destroying homes and businesses on Utila’s neighboring island of Guanaja. This devastating fire still rages and is continuing to wipe out the entire cay with over 90 homes destroyed and counting. The video below was posted a few hours ago, when the count was at 40 homes consumed by the fire.
You can donate to help the residents of Guanaja who lost everything. This GoFundMe page is being organized by Rima Haylock.
Utila Pumpkin Hill Fire
Meanwhile, in Utila, a fire also broke out on the northeastern side of Pumpkin Hill, Utila’s highest point. There were some responders there with chainsaws trying to clear a dirt path and take down lower limbs to lessen what could catch fire and to help stop the spread of the fire. With almost zero rainfall for the last several months, as we are headed into our much-awaited rainy season, the dried leaves, soil, trees and brush are making it dangerously easy for controlled fires to get out of control and spread.
Mitch and I had previously discussed the purchase of a portable fire-fighting pump. We would like advice on what we should purchase for Utila’s community. We are hoping we can get a portable lagoon/pool/cistern/salt-water fire-fighting pump for the island and everything necessary, including shipping for under $4,000. Please ask around for help to anyone you know that may be knowledgeable in this area to guide us in our purchase.
We do have ex-fire fighter friends who are going to guide us in what would be the best system to purchase. Although more heads are better than two! There are a number of factors that need to be considered:
- The water pressure needed.
- How the water may be input into the pump – saltwater, a water cistern or pool
- Inlet/Outlet size
- Self-priming
- Fuel type
- Mobility of unit
If you would like to help purchase additional pumps to be distributed around the island, we will let you know our end-costs and we’ll start a GoFundMe once we know the final costs of shipping and additional accessories to mobilize these units to get them to where they are needed.
The idea is that only one or two people remain in charge of each pump station and have them spread around the community. Each station would be housed privately with the expectation that the pump remain in working order, is fueled and ready to go at all times. More units means higher fire-fighting capacity, quicker response time (assuming there will be a closer unit available if there are more placed around the island), and a better chance that fires can be put out faster and with less damage.
I like this one because it looks like it has everything one might need. I cannot find pricing or purchase info anywhere:
Looking forward to any advice and ideas.
And lastly, see below for video from the top of Pumpkin Hill earlier today.
Video Credit Patrick Flynn