CARSON CITY - 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 western Nevada 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."
There are 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.
So far 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 thre human caused fires and two 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.[[In-content Ad]]
