Exploding targets under scrutiny after devastating fire
WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - While dozens of wildfires were burning out of control in north central Washington last summer, two people decided to do some target shooting in the dry, grassy hills above Alta Lake. They set up an exploding target and fired at it, causing a loud boom and a huge smoke-like cloud.
The outing resulted in the Goat Fire, which would burn 73,378 acres, the Wenatchee World reported.
U.S. Forest Service officials have not said whether their investigators believe the fire was caused by the target or a bullet striking something else.
There's plenty of disagreement about whether targets that explode can start fires. Some think they're dangerous and should be banned; others say they're no danger.
But as exploding targets become more popular they are more often linked to wildfires. The devices have been blamed for starting at least two dozen fires across the West last summer, the newspaper reported.
Fire officials last summer said that two other smaller fires in north central Washington - a 120-acre blaze near Entiat and a quarter-acre fire near Cashmere - were started by people shooting at exploding targets.
Kelsey Hilderbrand, owner of High Mountain Hunting Supply in Wenatchee, sells one brand of exploding targets, Tannerite, for between $4.95 and $9 apiece.
"They're very popular, and they're a lot of fun," he said, adding that he has used them and that the targets have never started a fire.
"They are not a heat-related explosion, so there's no way to have an ignition-based system," Hilderbrand told the Wenatchee World
Others disagree.
"There's no question they start fires," said Bill Gabbert, a former wildland firefighter and fire investigator in Southern California who produces the online magazine, Wildfire Today.
Gabbert believes they are a growing danger because more and more people are starting to use them.
"I think we need to figure out a way to ban the use of exploding target," he said, adding, "I'm convinced they are too dangerous to use."
Exploding targets are a mixture of an oxidizer - usually ammonium nitrate - and a fuel, such as aluminum.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives does not regulate the sale and distribution of these powder chemicals, even when they're sold as kits designed to become explosives, according to its May 2012 newsletter.
Once mixed, someone must have a federal explosives permit to transport them, the newspaper reported. Sportsmen generally mix them onsite before using them as targets.
In Washington state, exploding targets are illegal to use on state land, said Larry Raedel, chief of law enforcement for the state Department of Natural Resources.
"We don't allow any explosive or incendiary devices," he said, including Tannerite, an exploding target which, its manufacturers claim, does not ignite fires.
The question isn't so simple on federal lands.
"We don't have anything that specifically addresses explosive ammunition," said Tom Knappenberger, regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.
In California, Sgt. Bob Epps, bomb squad commander for the Riverside County Sheriff's hazardous device team, said his officers are charging businesses and sportsmen for possession of these chemicals, even unmixed.
Retail stores in his county have been told they have 30 days to return their inventory of binary explosives, or they can be charged with a felony under California law that bans the devices.
"We understand that this has not been tightly regulated," he told the newspaper.
Epps said he believes the explosives could cause serious injury, although he hasn't had any incidents in his jurisdiction.
John Maclean, who has written several books on fatal wildfires, said he's concerned about the danger that exploding targets pose to firefighters.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, two game commissioners were investigating a fire caused by exploding targets when an unexploded target suddenly exploded. They checked into a local hospital with temporary blindness and hearing loss, and went back to work the next day, the Wenatchee World reported.
"It's a growing problem, and it's going to get worse," Maclean said.
Local sportsmen say the real issue should focus on whether people are acting recklessly. Hilderbrand said the issue rests with the individual responsibility of the target shooter.
The outing resulted in the Goat Fire, which would burn 73,378 acres, the Wenatchee World reported.
U.S. Forest Service officials have not said whether their investigators believe the fire was caused by the target or a bullet striking something else.
There's plenty of disagreement about whether targets that explode can start fires. Some think they're dangerous and should be banned; others say they're no danger.
But as exploding targets become more popular they are more often linked to wildfires. The devices have been blamed for starting at least two dozen fires across the West last summer, the newspaper reported.
Fire officials last summer said that two other smaller fires in north central Washington - a 120-acre blaze near Entiat and a quarter-acre fire near Cashmere - were started by people shooting at exploding targets.
Kelsey Hilderbrand, owner of High Mountain Hunting Supply in Wenatchee, sells one brand of exploding targets, Tannerite, for between $4.95 and $9 apiece.
"They're very popular, and they're a lot of fun," he said, adding that he has used them and that the targets have never started a fire.
"They are not a heat-related explosion, so there's no way to have an ignition-based system," Hilderbrand told the Wenatchee World
Others disagree.
"There's no question they start fires," said Bill Gabbert, a former wildland firefighter and fire investigator in Southern California who produces the online magazine, Wildfire Today.
Gabbert believes they are a growing danger because more and more people are starting to use them.
"I think we need to figure out a way to ban the use of exploding target," he said, adding, "I'm convinced they are too dangerous to use."
Exploding targets are a mixture of an oxidizer - usually ammonium nitrate - and a fuel, such as aluminum.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives does not regulate the sale and distribution of these powder chemicals, even when they're sold as kits designed to become explosives, according to its May 2012 newsletter.
Once mixed, someone must have a federal explosives permit to transport them, the newspaper reported. Sportsmen generally mix them onsite before using them as targets.
In Washington state, exploding targets are illegal to use on state land, said Larry Raedel, chief of law enforcement for the state Department of Natural Resources.
"We don't allow any explosive or incendiary devices," he said, including Tannerite, an exploding target which, its manufacturers claim, does not ignite fires.
The question isn't so simple on federal lands.
"We don't have anything that specifically addresses explosive ammunition," said Tom Knappenberger, regional spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.
In California, Sgt. Bob Epps, bomb squad commander for the Riverside County Sheriff's hazardous device team, said his officers are charging businesses and sportsmen for possession of these chemicals, even unmixed.
Retail stores in his county have been told they have 30 days to return their inventory of binary explosives, or they can be charged with a felony under California law that bans the devices.
"We understand that this has not been tightly regulated," he told the newspaper.
Epps said he believes the explosives could cause serious injury, although he hasn't had any incidents in his jurisdiction.
John Maclean, who has written several books on fatal wildfires, said he's concerned about the danger that exploding targets pose to firefighters.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, two game commissioners were investigating a fire caused by exploding targets when an unexploded target suddenly exploded. They checked into a local hospital with temporary blindness and hearing loss, and went back to work the next day, the Wenatchee World reported.
"It's a growing problem, and it's going to get worse," Maclean said.
Local sportsmen say the real issue should focus on whether people are acting recklessly. Hilderbrand said the issue rests with the individual responsibility of the target shooter.
Can we tape one to Kitty P's Arse .......just kidding...................................naw not really=)
There is an original recipe for tannerite and a new version & both are for sale. The original version consumes the oxygen in its blast radius thus preventing a flame to exist in any manner. So no that version can not start a fire & its alot more stable than the new version. The original version takes a projectile travelling 2200 fps or faster for it to work. The new version does have a flame & is what the shooters in the hills were likely using when it started a fire. The original version would of been impossible for it to start any fire. The new version can go off with anything 1000 fps or faster, so even a .22 can work. Might be interesting to some people that tannerite was invented by a eugene native & is sold all over the country.
most folks that go shooting should be running the roads for exercise. We have to many out of shape folks out shooting because they are easily bored and lazy. Get in shape and then go shooting, your mind will have more oxygen flowing to it to prevent stupidity.
@drinkmorewater Just what kind of medication are you on?
Proof that shooting even just, "for fun," is as safe as, "running with scissors." And exploding targets? Really? Â The ATF needs to get their rears in gear before mass bombings are the new trend!
@J. Burton The cell-phone ignition of bombs technology left the "shooting-at-exploding-targets-with-high-powered-rifles" technology behind long before exploding targets were even invented.
I saw at the Portland Collectors West Gun Show this weekend, that they also make shotgun shells that shoot off a fireball like a flame thrower.Â
I'm not fond of the idea, sticking with my traditional statement of "stupid is, stupid does"Â
I guess if you get a bill for millions of dollars to put out a fire you started, at least 25 percent of the stupid people would hopefully think it was a stupid idea, at least from that point forward.Â
(probably not)
@Jason Marks It's a pretty safe bet that off-roaders and campers start far more fires than exploding targets do.Â