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-stori...-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.