Forest visitors cautioned on gunfire

Target practice linked to 8 blazes this year in Tonto area

Unattended campfires, lightning strikes, horsing around with fireworks: They’re all commonly regarded as sources of forest fires.

But target shooting with firearms? As temperatures rise and grasses continue to dry, federal forest agents say that Arizona’s affinity for its firearms is playing a major role in this year’s fire season. Recreational target shooting has been pegged as the cause of eight fires so far, according to Gary Hanna, a district ranger for the Tonto National Forest.

Five fires had been caused by target shooting by this time last year, according to forest records.

The majority of the fires originated in the Mesa Ranger District of the Tonto National Forest, where many visitors practice target shooting.

On May 22, fire restrictions were implemented, including the prohibition of target shooting in the Tonto National Forest.

Paige Rockett, a spokeswoman for the forest, said if ground conditions become more dangerous before the monsoon season, restrictions could be elevated depending on weather, temperatures and humidity levels.

Violation of fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of as much as $5,000 and/or imprisonment for as long as six months.

“What is more important about illegally starting fires is that the culprits can be held legally responsible for the cost of suppression,” Rockett said. “Our single-biggest growing challenge is the increase of fires started by recreational

shooting.”

But Hanna said many people don’t know that target shooting, an acceptable form of recreation in the forest, is illegal during this time.

He said he is very concerned about the increase of fires caused by recreational shooting during drought conditions.

“We’re trying to get the word out,” Hanna said. “The forest welcomes all forms of recreation, including target shooting, but we need to figure out a way to not destroy the forest. Education is our best bet.”

Forest officials want to prevent a repeat of the Sunflower Fire near Payson last year, also caused by target shooting.

It burned about 17,600 acres and cost $7.3 million in firefighting efforts, according to forest officials.

Of the eight fires this year, six have originated in the impact zone of a target-shooting area, meaning that those fires started near where bullets would hit the ground and usually near where targets are set up.

One fire that was started by target shooting was reported by the person who started it.

And one was started from an exploding target, which deepens forest officials’ concerns.

Kelly Castillo, Bureau of Land Management Arizona fire-management officer, said that exploding targets are legal binary explosives consisting of two components that, when combined after impact from a high-speed projectile, explode into a white powder.

He said there is an ongoing debate over whether the components are flammable and if there is an ignition source that produces sparks after impact.

Use of these types of explosives has increased in recent years, he said.

“They’re still trying to figure out the science behind it,” Castillo said.

“I would say some gun advocates support the ideal that responsible use of these targets does not cause fires. But recent history has shown, through several fire investigations in several states, a direct correlation of wildfire ignitions with the improper use of these targets.”

Hanna said a significant number of target shooters in the forest use assaultstyle rifles that put out a lot of ammoin a short time.

This, along with the use of exploding targets, can increase the risk of fire, Hanna said.

“I personally observed one family outing of five where there were four assault rifles and one shotgun rapidly firing at an exploding target,” he said. “The target eventually exploded, but not after multiple attempts by the family to hit it.”