COLUMN: Carmel Hopkins

The flames engulfing the Firenze Luxury Apartments on Sept. 4 were spectacular, lighting up the night sky and visible from all parts of the valley.

All the television stations had their helicopters up, showing about 100 of the Las Vegas Valley's top-notch firefighters battling the blaze. I kept switching from channel to channel, attempting to hear the name of the project.

My friend, Irwin Molasky, told me recently that he was involved in an upscale apartment project in that area and I feared the worst. The camera finally panned to the leasing sign and sure enough, it was that project.

When I talked with him the next day about the event, the first thing he said was, "We're thankful nobody got hurt. You can rebuild buildings, but you can't rebuild people."

This is what I love about the man. Sure, he talked about the loss and rebuilding the project, but was grateful that there was no human toll.

The apartments are being built jointly by Ovation Inc., a company incorporated in 1995 by Alan L. Molasky and overseen by Jim Hernquist; and the Molasky Group of Cos.

Alan Molasky said the loss was tremendous. He figures the firefighters saved about 100 units that were finished, but about 350 units were demolished. He said the amount would range from $12 million to $15 million.

"That's two, two-and-a-half years of work, effort and money, gone," he said.

Alan Molasky said the company was notified by the Clark County Fire Department that the fire was set deliberately.

"We're saddened by the fact the Fire Department feels there was foul play and someone in the community would do such a thing," he said. "Not only did they put firefighters in danger, but they displaced neighbors and put hard-working electricians and carpenters and plumbers out of work."

Molasky pointed out that the Molasky Group of Cos. has deep roots in Southern Nevada, having operated in the area more than 50 years. The group has built homes, apartments, shopping centers, malls, class A office space, hospitals and industrial projects.

"We are committed to building the Firenze Luxury Apartments at Boulder Highway and Russell Road, and will start as soon as we're given the green light," Molasky said.

In the meantime, they're talking with investors and insurance companies.

We all saw the video of the arson investigation dog, Wren, sniffing around the fire scene, looking for something suspicious. It's amazing that a dog can be trained to ferret out instances of arson; such an innocent animal nailing down such a dastardly deed.

This is not a victimless crime. Even though nobody was injured, a toll was taken on the firefighters who were battling the blaze, the workers who lost employment while the investigation was being conducted, the neighbors who were forced out of their homes, the homes where windows were blown out by the intense heat, the contractors who have to bulldoze out the debris and start building from scratch, the insurance companies that have to pay on claims, and the investors who have to wait to begin collecting the return on their money. Not to mention the waste of time and materials.

Arson affects the community; it takes a physical, emotional and financial toll on everyone involved.

It was especially meaningful because it happened to someone I know and respect.

Carmel Hopkins, real estate product manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun, can be reached at 380-4574. Her e-mail address is chopkins@ reviewjournal.com. Snail mail is P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

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