- Firefighters warn target shooting can spark fires, especially with steel bullets.
- Exploding targets and dry conditions increase fire risk; officials urge caution.
- Utah faces potential record high wildland fire danger, with 314 fires this year.
TOOELE — In a field in the Pine Canyon area Wednesday morning, firefighters from various agencies showed members of the media items that can quickly spark a fire from target shooting.
Trevor Whiting, assistant fire warden for Tooele County, held up a metal pole with a clay pigeon hanging off of it.
"Last week, we had people target shooting, and they were using some clay pigeons," Whiting said, pointing to various bullet holes in the pole. "The molten metal off of the T-post started the fire. And so you might have good safe targets, but what's behind it is also really important to be mindful of."
Whiting and others noted that steel bullets and steel targets in particular can easily spark upon contact, lighting dry brush on fire. Even worse, Tooele County Fire Warden Dan Walton said a fire last summer was started from exploding targets.
"We're spreading a message today," Walton explained. "Be safe when you're target shooting. Do not use exploding targets. Check your ammunition. If it's steel, if it sticks to a magnet, it is likely that it could potentially start a fire."
Kelly Wickens, a fire prevention specialist with Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, said Utah has had 314 wildfires since the start of the year, with 231 of those being human caused. As temperatures rise and much of the state faces the prospect of triple digits Thursday, she also warns that red flag conditions over the next few days will only add to the fire potential.
"That means that our temperatures will be hot, our humidities will be dry, and we will expect higher than normal winds," Wickens said.
Aside from target shooting, firefighters warn that any source of a spark or high heat can erupt into flame when met with very dry fuels. Jon Smith, a public information officer with North Tooele Fire District said based on data from the BLM, DNR, as well as local agencies, Utah is facing a potential record high level of danger for wildland events.
"We're staring down triple digits in the month of June for the first time since the 1930s, in some areas," Smith explained. "Make sure that you're not throwing cigarettes out your window. Make sure you're not dragging chains. Make sure that you're not pulling off into high weeds if you're having car trouble. Hot engine parts and brakes can start wildland events."
