June 25, 2015
Contact:
Mike Cafferata
Forest Grove District Forester
503-359-7430, mike.j.cafferata@oregon.gov
Recent wildfires in northwestern Oregon have prompted a plea
to recreational target shooters to be extra careful in the forest. In the past two
weeks, three fires ignited by shooting burned 68 acres, cost $100,000 to put
out, and caused considerable damage to private and public timberlands.
to recreational target shooters to be extra careful in the forest. In the past two
weeks, three fires ignited by shooting burned 68 acres, cost $100,000 to put
out, and caused considerable damage to private and public timberlands.
For the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) Mike
Cafferata, the fires bring back bad memories of last year’s 36 Pit Fire, which
was reported by news media as having been caused by target shooters firing into
a rock pit. The fire burned 5,500 acres and cost millions of dollars to contain.
Cafferata, the fires bring back bad memories of last year’s 36 Pit Fire, which
was reported by news media as having been caused by target shooters firing into
a rock pit. The fire burned 5,500 acres and cost millions of dollars to contain.
“Our fire danger is at record levels for this time of year,”
the Forest Grove District Forester said. “These are conditions we normally see
in August.”
the Forest Grove District Forester said. “These are conditions we normally see
in August.”
The parched forest vegetation is primed to burn from any
ignition source, whether a bullet-caused spark, untended campfire, discarded
cigarette, or the hot exhaust system of a vehicle idling
over dry grass.
ignition source, whether a bullet-caused spark, untended campfire, discarded
cigarette, or the hot exhaust system of a vehicle idling
over dry grass.
Forest managers are reaching out to all forest users,
including target shooters, to reduce human-caused fires during this period of
extreme fire danger. One option is more public education to raise awareness of
the potential for shooting-caused fires when forest fuels are so dry.
including target shooters, to reduce human-caused fires during this period of
extreme fire danger. One option is more public education to raise awareness of
the potential for shooting-caused fires when forest fuels are so dry.
He said another approach being considered is tightening
restrictions on shooting by either shutting
the activity down at 1 p.m. or prohibiting it entirely until fire danger
subsides.
restrictions on shooting by either shutting
the activity down at 1 p.m. or prohibiting it entirely until fire danger
subsides.
“We would like to find a
solution that supports landowner activities and the recreating public, while
also maintaining forest resources and property,” he said.
solution that supports landowner activities and the recreating public, while
also maintaining forest resources and property,” he said.
In the near term, he asked
the recreational shooting public be to
particularly careful heading into the extreme heat of the weekend.
the recreational shooting public be to
particularly careful heading into the extreme heat of the weekend.
Bullets are extremely hot on
impact, he said, and fragments of bullets falling on vegetation were likely the
cause of the recent fires in the district.
impact, he said, and fragments of bullets falling on vegetation were likely the
cause of the recent fires in the district.
To reduce the risk of fire,
he advised target shooters only to shoot into a backstop of mineral soil, and
to have the required fire extinguisher (or shovel and water) ready at hand.
After shooting, be sure to check the target area for any signs of fire.