Carson City, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Western Nevada Agency would like the community to be aware of the risk of wildfire when target shooting due to continued dry conditions, low precipitation and hot temperatures.
Several wildfires have been started by target shooting this year alone in many western states including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington. Many of those fires could have been prevented or stopped had the shooters been prepared.
Fire conditions are extreme this year. Incidents of note in our local area include the Red Rock, Bison and Spring Peak fires. Although lightning caused, these large fires grew very quickly after ignition which validates the extreme fire conditions we are currently experiencing.
“Awareness that wildfires can occur from shooting is the most important thing,” said Shane McDonald, Fire Management Officer. “If people are aware that it can happen, we hope they will make safer choices.”
10 ways to prevent wildfires while target shooting:
- Bring a container of water
- Bring a shovel and an old blanket
- Shoot at quality steel targets
- Place your targets on dirt or gravel areas clear of vegetation
- Don’t shoot trash and remove your spent cartridges
- Don’t shoot with steel core ammo
- Never shoot exploding targets
- Don’t use incendiary or tracer ammo
- Don’t smoke
- Park your vehicle away from dry grass
On June 28 fire restrictions went into effect prohibiting:
1. Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire (using wood, charcoal or any other material), campfire, or stove fire except a portable stove using gas or pressurized liquid fuel, outside of developed fee campground or picnic area (except by permit).
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or at a developed campground or picnic area.
3. Welding, or operating an acetylene torch with open flames, except by permit.
4. Using or causing to be used, any explosive, except by permit.
5. Possession or use of fireworks (always prohibited), or any other incendiary device.
6. Use of tracer rounds, steel-core ammunition or exploding targets including Binary Explosive Targets while recreational shooting.
7. Open burning (e.g. weeds, brush and yard debris).
In 2013, there have been 13 human caused fires and 40 lightning caused fires for a total of 30,874 acres burned on public lands within the Carson City BLM District. On BIA managed land, there have been 3 human caused fires and 2 lightning caused fire for a total of 3,200 acres.
“Everyone is encouraged to safely enjoy the public lands, bearing in mind that human-caused fires annually threaten human life, private property and public land resources”, McDonald added.
For more information contact Lisa Ross at 775-885-6107.
