Many San Diegan’s may not realize that undocumented people living in this community suffered the biggest loss in this firestorm. Eight people were severely burned in the Harris fire as they made their way through the mountains-- six border crossers perished. Freelance journalist, Laura Castaneda has the story of one of the victims who is not being forgotten.
Rafael Hernandez and a group of volunteers known as, Los Angeles del Disierto, or the Desert Angeles, are on a mission today.
They are returning 3,000 miles atop Tecate Peak. To the very spot where they found the body of 37-year-old Juan Carlos Bautista Oc38o from Chiapas, just ten days earlier.
Armando Baustista, victims brother (translated): It huts me to my soul to know how my brother died, he suffered a lot in that condition he was in.
Armando says his brother knew the terrain. He had crossed the same path twice before.
Baustista: He had kids, and a wife. He was very responsible with them, and that’s why he was coming over here, to give them the best.
According to two other men traveling with Bautista that day, the six strangers met in Tijuana -- Bautista leading the way.
Luis: We got up and started patting out our clothes trying to put the fire out on our own bodies. People were screaming but we couldn’t do anything. We couldn’t touch each other.
The survivors say Bautista suffered a broken ankle trying to dodge the flames.
Luis: I told him we’re going to try to walk if one of us makes it down they’ll come to get you, that was my idea, it was never my idea just to leave him there.
Exhausted, frightened, and burned, Pedro and the other five men slowly made their way down the mountain toward interstate 94.
Luis: We didn’t think we were going to live. When we started walking there was so much ash and smoke. It was so hot – we couldn’t see anything.
Six hours after the ordeal began. The five survivors made it to safety. They gave authorities directions where to find Bautista but soon learned authorites did not go back to look for him. Instead it was Hernandez and his group who found the body.
Perez: When I came over this way, I saw something. I thought it was someone just resting then I smelled an odor and saw lots of flies.
Exactly two months after his body is found, Juan Carlo Bautista’s brother and some friends have an opportunity to say their final goodbye.
Rodriguez: We feel pain and sadness, but we have some satisfaction that we found the body and we are able to help the family find closure to this very sad chapter.
Homeland security estimates 200 border crossers were rescued during the wildfires, making their way through these mountains, including a vista woman, with four small children.
This is 8-year-old felipe junior, 7-year-old alfredo, 5-year-old kristal, and 17-month old kevin. Too young to really understand that their mother Maria Guadalupe Beltran is never coming home.
Mercado: She was a woman who was so attached to her children.
After pleading with her partner Felipe Mercado, the 29-year-old mother of four makes a rash decision. She takes her two youngest children and heads to Mexico after learning that her father died.
Mercado: I took her hand and said honey think about it. We have four kids, no money and we have a one-year-old that you are breast-feeding.
Knowing the danger of crossing undocumented, Maria Beltran and her 25-year old brother Nicholas, travel back to Tijuana. A relative picks up her U.S. born children and safely reunites them with their father in Vista. But a last minute change in plans leaves Maria and her brother in the hands of a coyote they've never met before.
Mercado: I felt nervous, uncomfortable, weird, strange, different, like something wasn't right.
He begins making phone calls to anyone who will listen.
Diaz: It’s a really sad story with the children. I’m sorry, I get very emotional. I’m a grandmother and I get very emotional.
Celia Diaz takes Felipe to the UCSD Burn Unit in Hillcrest
Mercado: When I saw her I did not recognize her. She was covered in bandages, with a sheet all of her face.
Mercado: She had her nails painted white, and that's how I recognized her.
For two weeks Felipe Mercado remains at Maria's bedside praying for her recovery.
Mercado: I asked the Virgin tell me whatever you want, please just don't taker her. But she did. At 11 in the morning my wife went away, she died at 11.
