Target shooters start Yosemite fires?

[wisconsin]

Short of putting the muzzle right at the ground. Well I just don't see how. But I've been wrong before

[Grizzle_Bear]

I have seen the burning patch from a muzzle loader start grass fires.  Never managed to start a fire with anything else.

Grizzle Bear

[Ichiban]

Maybe they were using Tannerite targets?  Although I'm sure something this much fun has got to be illegal in Kalifornia.
http://www.tannerite.com/she_exploding_targets.html

[JohnJacobH]

Target shooting blamed
State fire spokeswoman Karen Guillemin said the cause of the fire, dubbed the Telegraph Fire, "is definitely target shooting," but would not elaborate.

See, now you guys have gone and done it, you got me all cranked up about trees. (again!)

To blame target shooters or any group for the inevitable consequence of government idiocy is just about a perfect reflection of contemporary societal lunacy.

http://johnjacobh.wordpress.com/2008/07/30/trees-are-evil-they-deserve-to-die/

[Ron J]

I heard this on NPR this morning and couldn't figure out how that could happen, unless they were firing incindiaries or blowing stuff up. If you are "target shooting" theoretically you would have a berm behind the targets, etc....hot lead MAYBE, but it sounds a little fishy.
Maybe the target shooters were smoking cigarettes and grilling hotdogs.

Right.  Probably by some wieners. 

[Sponsor]

[1776 Rebel]

There is a possibly of causing fires with some ammunition. The following is from the CMP website specifically about surplus military ammo. It does not refer to tracer ammo (which can be one way to start a fire) but BALL ammo.

FAQ:  Does the bullet attract a magnet?

A: Some Ranges in the western states will not allow the use of any ammo that attracts a magnet in an effort to prevent forest or brush fires caused by sparks.  Because we frequently are asked if the bullet attracts a magnet - we provide the information as part of our description to reduce the number of calls and emails we would otherwise receive.  The bullet does not have a steel jacket, but there is some ferrous metal in the gilding metal.

[blackwolfe]

Tried some google searching to find more details on how target shooters started the fire.  All I was able to find was that it apparently started on private property and they believe they know who fired the shot that started the fire.  Apparently it was accidental and negligence was not envolved.  It did not look like any criminal charges would be filed.  I still could not find out how the fire started from shooting.

[brosometal]

Let me see here.  Is Yosemite in CA? Check.  There's your problem.  Damn target shooters! JohnJacobH has it right with the whole forest for the trees bit.  The lefties in CA are victims of their own policies.  Hoisted on their own petards. Damn you Irony!

[twyacht]

After Heller, ANY negative "gun" stories are going to be front page stories, just to remind the "sheeple", how bad those guns can be, even to the point of Smokey The Bear, "Only you (shooters), can prevent forest fires. Oh and the anti pollution owl will be brought back out "Give a hoot, and don't shoot"

[JohnJacobH]

See, now you guys have gone and done it, you got me all cranked up about trees. (again!)

To blame target shooters or any group for the inevitable consequence of government idiocy is just about a perfect reflection of contemporary societal lunacy.

So help me I can not stop myself! You want to prevent forest fires? Shred the dingdong darn forest!!!!

http://johnjacobh.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/trees-are-evil-they-deserve-to-die-part-ii/