Las Vegas Sun

December 5, 2009

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Danger of target shooting is seen

Tuesday, July 5, 2005 | 9:38 a.m.

Just four days before the July 3 Garnet Fire was started by a target shooter on the east side of U.S. 93 about 10 miles northwest of the intersection with Interstate 15, the Nevada Interagency Fire Prevention Team had been trying to spread a message of caution about target shooting and the fire risk it poses.

The fire burned more than 1,200 acres and damaged power lines maintained by Lincoln County Power Company, officials said Sunday.

On June 29, the team had issued a press release that noted: " People target shooting on public lands are urged to use extreme caution. Steel core ammunition is a known fire starter.

"The head of steel core ammo is coated with copper and will spark on rocks after going through a target, igniting vegetation. Shooters are responsible for fire suppression costs incurred by shooting.'

The team also points out that while most public land is available for target shooting, gunfire is not allowed in:

For more information call the Nevada Division of Wildlife at 486-5127.

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