LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – It’s been two weeks since more than 100 acres were scorched at Wetlands Park.
The largest of four fires to tear through the park this year alone.
It has people like Frank Kirkpatrick concerned for a place he finds peace while snapping photos of nature.
“It’s like it’s an Oasis in the middle of the desert, literally, you know, and it’s attracted all this wildlife here and all these people here who use it for their own therapeutic purposes,” Kirkpatrick said.
We spoke to the longtime wildlife photographer a couple of months ago after a 30-acre fire at the Wetlands.
His reaction to a blaze three times as big is filled with fear for the future.
“I wonder what the impact was on this, the wildlife species,” Kirkpatrick said.
”The other thing that concerned me is why there haven’t been a lot of good answers as to why these things have been occurring.”
As we have seen this year, fires at the Wetlands are not uncommon.
Wetlands Park manager Elizabeth Bickmore has seen plenty spark up as a Las Vegas native.
She did speak to FOX 5 with confidence that there will be a relatively smooth recovery for the land burnt by last month’s fire.
“Fortunately, the area that burned was mostly common reed. It forms a monoculture so it’s not the best for habitat,” Bickmore said.
“The reed grows back really, really fast and so we expect that come next year you won’t even tell there was a fire out there.”
Despite the confidence, Bickmore admitted it’s been a lot dealing with so many fires to start the year, particularly in the heat of summer.
“It’s been kind of a tough last few months. It’s never good to see a fire out here. It’s also nesting season so it’s a tough time for the birds so we’re hoping the fires are done for the season,” Bickmore said.
While park leaders hang onto hope, people like Kirkpatrick want to see changes, something that can remind people how important the Wetlands are.
“I wish they had more resources. A little more research or a little more money placed in the area to raise public awareness,” Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick also suggested a larger security presence at the park since some of these fires are speculated to be started by humans.
To that point, Bickmore implored the general public to abide by the rules of the park which explicitly prohibit fires/flames of any form on park grounds.
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