Thought I would start a new thread looking for anyone with updated info on the impact that the BOPEC fire has had on Gotomeer, wildlife, the ocean/reefs, etc. Also haven't heard much about the alledged oil leak into the ocean before the fire. Hopefully someone has some local info for those of us who are concerned as to what the status is there.

I would also ask if anyone has any updated info on the north dive sites. Is anything north of Karpata open for diving? How about north of BOPEC?

Oil leak? This fire was started by lightning. Why are we introducing alleged facts?

e.

The oil leak a few days before the fire was mentioned in all local news papers. Stinapa reported it.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_77914.php

Ok, thanks. The OP's statement made it sound like the two events were related. Looking at the aerial shots of the fire the water looks quite clean and clear so thinking the leak was probably not too serious.

e.

Y'know, one reason I don't often post on BT anymore is this tendency of people to immediately jump on someone, often for ill-informed reasons. The oil leak, as stated by others here, was not "alleged" in so far as it has been reported in the press. And neither I nor Eric have any idea whether the two incidents are related or not. Without any facts available, neither Eric nor I can possibly know whether the leak was "serious" and "looking at aerial shots of the fire" cannot indicate whether it was serious or not. As originally stated, I am simply hoping that we can begin to obtain some information on the impact of the leak and fire. Whether this is a relatively minor blip on the environment (and future economy) of Bonaire or whether either or both of these incidents will have catastrophic effects (or somewhere in between these two extremes) for Bonaire is what I am sure many of us are waiting to hear.

There you go again, Scott, trying to be reasonable, while operating in an unreasonable environment. Internet forums have gotten even more polarized than our politics...say whatever you want because truth is determined by how many people jump on your bandwagon (or how fast you criticize), not by independent facts. Critical thinking has all but disappeared, and colors are now only black and white, no more gray...or maybe that is red and blue, no more gray. And if you manage to get a thoughtful point of view out there, people make jokes and diminish/dilute the impact, or attack you personally. Quality discourse is a lost art.

Grump, grump. I need a desert island to move to. Oops, cross that one off the list!

(When is your next trip? Ellie and I return October 9, just in time for the changeover.)

Thanks for having my back Mel, and as always you certainly have a correct perspective. Don't know about you, but this is one issue that I am hoping to get some info on; like I said, this could be something relatively minor or something catastrophic. With your background I would guess that you realize that as much as anyone. Currently no plans for Bonaire, doing our vacations quite a bit more locally these days. (No, it has nothing to do with getting our ten-years-straight Bonaire Ambassador medals and calling it quits ). Give Augusto, Mama Lou, Murph and the gang my regards.

Hmmm with regards to the oil leaks, I'm not too sure if the oil patches/fields around the tanks on the bottom half (closest to the shoreline) of the BOPEC site in this photo are as a result of the fires, if not then I'm sure it should not be 'the norm' for an Oil Depot to have so much spillage around the tanks!!

Those patches you are referring too are likely just pools of water and not oil.

Okay, I'm sure people will be jumping all over me for this, but does anyone find it odd that several days after major BOPEC fires are out and something like a week since a reported oil leak into the ocean, there appears to be a lack of information regarding the impact of these events? Have there been any updates given to the public (Bonaire Reporter is on vacation and I don't see any updates on Amigo.com)? I don't expect anyone to come up with long term environmental impact statements overnight, but other than the one video there seems to be so little info and few answers to basic questions like: what was the extent of the leak? what got into the ocean from the fires? is the water supply from the desalinization plant potentially affected? are birds/fish or other flora and fauna dead from these events? how badly was Gotomeer affected?

Hey, I'm not saying that I suspect/anticipate/predict anything, just wondering why there appear to be no statements either optimistic (the leak was minor, water supply is safe for the following reason,etc) or pessimistic (flamingos have died, there are health concerns, etc.).

This was in the Amigoe dated Sept 11--full article in the link below. Here's how it starts:

KRALENDIJK — The Examining Council for the Safety will investigate the Bopec fire. During a press conference late last night, Lieutenant Governor Glenn Thodé announced that the request to the Examining Council, via the Governor of the Antilles, is in preparation.

Thodé deems the deployment of this ‘effective means’ just, in view of the impact of the fire. “I decided to call in the Examining Council, as the council is independent and works according to procedures determined in advance. It is crucial that nobody can meddle with the findings of the investigation” according to Thodé.

http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/artikel_78024.php

Thanks, Ruth, I did see that on Amigoe. Curious what, in your opinion as a resident, the statement "It is crucial that nobody can meddle with the findings of the investigation" means, or at least what those of you familiar with the workings of Bonaire think that means. Does this mean that it will be an honest, unbiased report, or does it mean that they don't want anyone in the press or otherwise speculating on things? Has there been any info on island regarding what the extent of the reported leak into the ocean was? Anyone know what's happening with the wildlife, especially up around Gotomeer? How widespread is the soot deposit whatever this fire left behind? Beyond an investigation that will (to quote the article) begin "one of these days" can you tell me what the observations and thoughts of people on island are? I for one am hoping to hear something about how bad it really was.

Sorry Scott--I'm a bit out of circulation lately and really can't speculate too much. It's an island--there will always be at least as many rumors as there are truths.

I took the article to mean the study of what happened will be done by outside investigators (I'm sure Bonaire itself could not handle such a vast investigation, nor would anyone trust one conducted by Venezuela or the Bopec owners).

I haven't been more north than the Chinese market in Hato, east of KFC, west of the sea, nor more south than the airport--I've personally seen no soot in these areas.

It is curious that there are no " Trip Reports"
posted since this fire. I would like to have insight from a few visiting divers( tourists ).

Anthony, this was posted in a different thread:

Bonaire Talk: Diving Bonaire: Diving & Vacationing conditions because of fire???

Posted by Andy Bryant on Monday, September 20, 2010 - 4:42 pm:

To the original topic;
Just returned home from BON yesterday. If you didn't know about it you would not know there was a fire. The only obvious evidence is that 2 of the tanks way in the back that you can only see between the cactus from the very top of the road behind BOPEC look burned.

When we arrived on the 11th you could see some black smoke coming from BOPEC. By Sunday that was over.

(Message edited by andyb on September 20, 2010)

Thank you Mel . Very encouraging.
I hate to appear skeptical , but it is curious the the post was "edited"

Don't assume the worst; perhaps he was just correcting a typo.

Mel is correct. We dove some of the north dive sites last week (Sept. 18-25) and there was no evidence of the fire, at least in the water or shore. None, nada.

We were on the island when the fire happened. There was a slight wind reversal and the plume drifted over land towards Rincon. The updraft from the fire was so large that it created its own rain storm. Dark rain could be seen coming down most of the time inland from BOPEC.

The odor was detectable from anywhere on the island.