Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — Crews responded Friday to a 150-acre fire on the west side of Utah Lake.
Jason Curry of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands said the fire started at 2:45 p.m. near mile marker 21 on Redwood Road. A portion of the road was closed for approximately 4 hours Friday.
Witnesses heard gunfire and an explosion and saw a group of individuals leaving the area where the fire started.
"Someone shot, and there's like (an explosion) and fire went everywhere," said Zach Tidwell, a Provo Boy Scout who was with another group of target shooters.
The shooters who sparked the blaze were cited for firing at an exploding target, which is illegal in Utah County.
"People do crazy things, like putting aerosol cans for targets, or things like that. It's just insane," said Ethan Hendricks, also a member of the Provo Boy Scout troop.
Ironically, representatives of several federal, state, and county agencies were meeting at a house about a half-mile away from the fire area when it started. Lisa Lowery told them she's fed up with stray bullets hitting her house.
"When we were doggone near hit in front of our house, it really ups the juice," Lowery said. "And now every single time that I hear a rifle go off over there, and they're fast shooting, all I can think, walking around here is, 'What bullet's going to kill me?'"
The fire interrupted the meeting, and officials scrambled from the Lowery house to help put it out. One of them was was Clark Aposhian, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council.
"Thousands and thousands of shooters can shoot out in this area all day long and never have a problem," Aposhian said. "But just like lighting off fireworks, you have to exercise good judgement as to where you shoot from, what you shoot into, and certainly your choice of targets."
The citation for shooting at an exploding target is a misdemeanor. But the biggest impact could be financial. The shooters are liable for all damages and the costs of fighting the fire.
