I read a AP article in the paper yesterday about the wildfires in the West being caused, investigators said, by shooters and that the state fire marshal in Utah was "banning" the use of steel jacketed ammunition under his emergency powers. The article went on to say that fires in New Mexico were caused by a rancher's shooting, and mentioned the guy in Arizona shooting "Dragon's Breath rounds at a batchelor party. It was suggested in the article that plinking and target shooting should be restricted to the winter months so as not to risk starting a fire when a bullet strikes a rock and causes sparks.
I've asked other shooters I know, and nobody has ever seen it happen. Has anyone ever been present when something like that has happened? Is this something like "pilot error"; a catchall excuse when no other cause can be found?

a88s that one used Dragon's breath shells and two used Tannerite targets in arid dry conditions... I have researched Gunsite and they shoot Millions of rounds down range- no tracers allowed - in dry high desert brushy conditions... never a fire caused by shooting. I know the only range fires I have witnessed were due to tracer ammo being used. Ban tracers ban flare rounds band dragons breath and tannerite during the summer demand common sense, on all sides.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

Someone should point out to those people how gullible they are being.

I have HEARD (no confirmation) of it happening with the old steel-core 7.62x39 ammo, which is mostly unavailable now. can't imagine sparks being struck by lead, copper jacketed, or even mild steel jacketed ammo. If it's soft enough to not damage a barrel, I wouldn't think it would strike sparks.

OTOH, a hardened steel bushhog blade WILL strike sparks on a rock sufficient to cause a fire. Guy burned a field here last week with that trick.

forest management policies....

blow up instantly when shot?!!?