Wildfire started by target shooters

[Mtneer]

Not tannerite, steel plates. Let's be careful out there. Carry a fire extinguisher in your vehicle.

http://www.dailycamera.com/top-stories/ci_30815820/rabbit-mountain-fire-started-by-target-shooters-investigators

[yankeefan98121]

I read about that yesterday, sounded like they tried to put out the fire but was unable to....not saying there's any solace , but at least they didn't just bail

[.455_Hunter]

The shooting community often does itself no favors. So the brain trust responsible for this incident thought shooting steel (my guess with steel jacket or steel core 5.56) was a good idea on essentially a red flag day in the same immediate area that had fires just days prior? They probably had the tanerite ready to go for the next series. I hope our Sheriff throws the book at them. This is exactly how permanent shooting bans take hold.

[Irving]

If you ever have the opportunity to shoot steel in the dark, do so. I had no idea amd now that I know I can be much more careful.

[Hummer]

I dont know. I hate to judge a guy for shooting steel. Im not sure everyone understands everything that someone else does. In their mind they may have thought they were being responsible. We probably need to educate our fellow shooters that steet targets can spark, with almost any bullet. (not that they will, but could) and we shouldnt shoot steel in those conditions. When its as dry as its been we have to be extremely careful in everything we do outside. Lawnmowers, trimmers can hit rocks and cause sparks, driving in tall grass and weeds can start a fire caused by the catalytic converter on your vehicle. It doesnt take much


I agree. I think there should be a pretty high bar to deem this criminal negligence. We don't have all the facts but the shooters acted responsibly in calling 911. If the fire had started by a lawnmower blade hitting a rock would the sheriff had referred possible criminal charges? Seems more appropriate as a civil/insurance claim.

But yes, you have to be careful with fire. So many people are clueless about the dangers.

[CS1983]

what about shooting tracers at steel?

Shower thought: If we would take up shooting w/ fire extinguishers instead of guns, the title of this thread would read "shooting target started by wildfire".

[Aloha_Shooter]

I'm just glad it wasn't shooting at propane bottles like the idiots a few years back.

[Grant H.]

The shooting community often does itself no favors. So the brain trust responsible for this incident thought shooting steel (my guess with steel jacket or steel core 5.56) was a good idea on essentially a red flag day in the same immediate area that had fires just days prior? They probably had the tanerite ready to go for the next series. I hope our Sheriff throws the book at them. This is exactly how permanent shooting bans take hold.

"Throw the book at them"? Jeez... I hope you've never made a mistake...

As Irving mentioned, LOTS of people shoot steel targets, but I'd venture a guess that the majority have not done low-light or night time steel shooting to see how many sparks even just jacketed lead can/does throw when shooting steel.

Poor judgement on shooting steel there? Maybe, I'd guess it's more likely ignorance of the risk of fire.

[BushMasterBoy]

You can make sparks by hitting rocks. With a hammer.

[WETWRKS]

We will see if this actually ends up being the case...pretty near every fire near Boulder has been blamed on shooters yet very few have ended up with that being the source.

[Ronin13]

We will see if this actually ends up being the case...pretty near every fire near Boulder has been blamed on shooters yet very few have ended up with that being the source.

I have yet to see "sparks" emitted from shooting steel actually start a fire. The only shooting related fire I've ever seen, in my entire life, has been from tracer rounds fired at targets with a heavily wooded area just beyond. I'm not saying it's impossible, but highly unlikely. Same goes with Tannerite. Shot that stuff in some of the most high fire danger conditions (with precautions) and never seen any hint of a possible grass fire.

[00tec]

I have yet to see "sparks" emitted from shooting steel actually start a fire. The only shooting related fire I've ever seen, in my entire life, has been from tracer rounds fired at targets with a heavily wooded area just beyond. I'm not saying it's impossible, but highly unlikely. Same goes with Tannerite. Shot that stuff in some of the most high fire danger conditions (with precautions) and never seen any hint of a possible grass fire.

Watched a fire get started inside a sheet metal milk can when another member here was shooting it. He was not firing tracers. It was Wolf, Tula, or Brown Bear.

Shit happens.

[Irving]

I've seen a pistol round start a fire when shooting at Boulder Rifle Club before.

[def90]

I'm guessing that it's not "sparks".. rather the bullet hitting the steel causing some of the fragments/spall to maybe superheat and turn molten from the force of the impact for an extremely brief moment and just the heat of the metal itself touching the grass starts the fire. Same as a catalytic converter starting a fire, no sparks involved.

[Irving]

I have yet to see "sparks" emitted from shooting steel actually start a fire. The only shooting related fire I've ever seen, in my entire life, has been from tracer rounds fired at targets with a heavily wooded area just beyond. I'm not saying it's impossible, but highly unlikely. Same goes with Tannerite. Shot that stuff in some of the most high fire danger conditions (with precautions) and never seen any hint of a possible grass fire.

Just because you've not seen it happen in person, doesn't necessarily mean the risk is low.
Check out this video I found in slow motion. You want to trust that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVRDIu17RRc

[BushMasterBoy]

Paper burns at fahrenheit 451.LOL

[BPTactical]

A shovel is a far more effective means of combating a grass fire than an extinguisher.
Carry a shovel when shooting.

[Irving]

Fire extinguisher, shovel, and water.

[BushMasterBoy]

I usually take an GI issue e-tool when I go out. Folds up nicely. Thinking more of if I get stuck, than fire though.

[cfortune]

One time I was shooting an old milk can and started a small fire.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[cfortune]

what about shooting tracers at steel?

Shower thought: If we would take up shooting w/ fire extinguishers instead of guns, the title of this thread would read "shooting target started by wildfire".
I found this to be way funnier than I should have...

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[Bailey Guns]

I've actually started a fire by shooting into an old tree stump.

Apparently, someone before me had used the stump as a target before I did (it was a common shooting area). After I fired a round, all 4 of us saw a bright, glowing piece of debris fly from the stump and land in the grass about 50 feet away. Started a small fire that we quickly put out with shovels and bottled water. Don't know what it was that my bullet hit. I don't know if a tracer can be ignited like that or not. Or maybe it was just the steel core of an old bullet.

[wctriumph]

It can happen, I have seen bullet ricochet off a rock and start a fire.

A friend and I were once stopped from riding our dirt bikes in a legal riding area because of high fire danger even though we had USFS approved spark arresters properly installed. The ranger said the it was possible that a rock could get kicked up and bounce off our bikes causing a spark that could start a fire. He did not know that it had ever happened before but thought the possibility of it happening was enough to stop us from legal riding on public lands.

[Hummer]

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_30828612/no-charges-filed-against-target-shooters-boulder-countys


No charges filed against target shooters in Boulder County's Rabbit Mountain Fire


Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett has decided not to file criminal charges against three target shooters at Round Mountain Ranch, where a bullet fragment ignited a grass fire that spread more than 150 acres Feb. 20.

A week ago, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office announced that the Rabbit Mountain Fire near Hygiene originated at 6303 Ute Highway and officials forwarded the case to prosecutors for review.

Garnett said they determined that there was no level of culpability — not even negligence — over shooting steel plates in the northwest corner of the property when a fragment from one of the rounds ignited nearby grasses, which were extremely dry on a windy day.

"We had these guys, they were shooting on private land in an appropriate location with an appropriate backstop," Garnett said. "Nothing about what they were doing was negligent and one of the bullets ignited a grass fire, which they immediately tried to put out and also called the fire authorities."

DA spokeswoman Catherine Olguin said the three men who were shooting do not own the property, but had permission from the property owner. She said they will not be releasing the names.

Multiple calls to the ranch went to a full voicemail and a records request for the initial fire report was unavailable Wednesday.

Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Wagner previously said in response to questions about whether the shooting was allowed that "there are no legal restrictions in place that explicitly prohibit shooting on the property." He added that "the question comes down to whether there is criminal responsibility for the fire or not in review of the criminal statutes."

[00tec]

http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_30828612/no-charges-filed-against-target-shooters-boulder-countys


No charges filed against target shooters in Boulder County's Rabbit Mountain Fire


Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett has decided not to file criminal charges against three target shooters at Round Mountain Ranch, where a bullet fragment ignited a grass fire that spread more than 150 acres Feb. 20.

A week ago, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office announced that the Rabbit Mountain Fire near Hygiene originated at 6303 Ute Highway and officials forwarded the case to prosecutors for review.

Garnett said they determined that there was no level of culpability — not even negligence — over shooting steel plates in the northwest corner of the property when a fragment from one of the rounds ignited nearby grasses, which were extremely dry on a windy day.

"We had these guys, they were shooting on private land in an appropriate location with an appropriate backstop," Garnett said. "Nothing about what they were doing was negligent and one of the bullets ignited a grass fire, which they immediately tried to put out and also called the fire authorities."

DA spokeswoman Catherine Olguin said the three men who were shooting do not own the property, but had permission from the property owner. She said they will not be releasing the names.

Multiple calls to the ranch went to a full voicemail and a records request for the initial fire report was unavailable Wednesday.

Boulder County sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Wagner previously said in response to questions about whether the shooting was allowed that "there are no legal restrictions in place that explicitly prohibit shooting on the property." He added that "the question comes down to whether there is criminal responsibility for the fire or not in review of the criminal statutes."

I think that's the right call.