Yuma, Arizona (AZFamily) — Firefighters have made great strides in putting out the Yuma County Refuge Fire, but are concerned about the destruction the blaze has left in its wake.
The fire is now 95 percent contained and has burned 1,042 acres since it began over Memorial Day weekend.
Due to this fire, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.
The area spans 30 miles of the lower Colorado River from Arizona to California.
This is crucial for migratory birds and wildlife, so firefighters are working tirelessly to minimize damage.
Yuma County Sheriff's Office deputies said the fire was the result of arson. They arrested Jason Martin, 47, of Yuma, on suspicion of accidentally setting off a flare.
The Arizona Central West District Incident Management Team said the fire is nearly completely contained but could continue to smolder for several days.
“They're patrolling the perimeter to make sure there are no hot spots. There are some areas that still have hot spots and they may continue to have hot spots for the next few weeks. We have people patrolling those areas to make sure there's no flare-ups or any further damage,” said Public Information Officer Kirk Johnson. Arizona Central West Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Biologists say some of this damage could take years to recover from.
With Chris Lorengel U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Southwest Arizona He showed us around some of the habitat destroyed by the fires in the reserve.
The sanctuary was established in 1941 to protect natural habitats and endangered species.
The reserve's wetlands are located among the desert mountains and have long been a safe haven for the region's species.
The fires have destroyed wetlands that provide dense vegetation suitable for nesting.
Lorengel said while the fire has been devastating for the area, there have been positives as well.
The fire will destroy invasive plant species and could help restore the area to its native habitat.
“We should start to see some regrowth as early as within the next three months. The water is there, the seed base is there, the plants will start to sprout again, but it will be at least 10 to 20 years before cottonwoods and willows become established and we see any noticeable changes,” Lorengel said.
More than 80,000 people visit Imperial National Wildlife Refuge each year.
Many of the evacuation centre access points will be closed to the public until firefighters have cleared the scene.
They plan to monitor several hot spots over the next few weeks.
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