DENVER \u2013 The U.S. Forest Service announced a ban on exploding targets Monday, citing them as a major cause of wildfires.<\/p>\n
Target shooters who use exploding targets have ignited 16 wildfires since 2012, including seven in the Forest Service\u2019s Rocky Mountain region of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.<\/p>\n
The ban extends to all national forests and grasslands in those five states.<\/p>\n
The public should understand that exploding targets can cause fires, said John Walsh, the U.S. Attorney for Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to have on your conscience starting a huge forest fire,\u201d Walsh said.<\/p>\n
Violation of the ban can bring a $5,000 fine and up to six months in prison. But Walsh said he hopes the word gets out and he doesn\u2019t have to prosecute anyone.<\/p>\n
Regular target shooting remains acceptable under Monday\u2019s order.<\/p>\n
Regional Forester Dan Jiron said he wants people to enjoy their public lands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHunting and target shooting are welcome recreational experience on national forest system lands. We just want visitors to have a safe and enjoyable experience,\u201d Jiron said in a prepared statement.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Land Management is working on a similar ban on exploding targets.<\/p>\n
Foresters blamed exploding targets for starting 16 fires that cost more than $33 million to fight in the last two fire seasons.<\/p>\n
The largest in Colorado was the 1,045-acre Springer Gulch Fire in Pike National Forest, which cost $2.7 million to fight.<\/p>\n
The order will remain in effect for one year, but Jiron expects it to be replaced by a national policy on exploding targets before his ban expires.<\/p>\n
The Rocky Mountain region is the first in the national forest system to place a ban on exploding targets, but Jiron expects others in the Western United States to impose similar bans.<\/p>\n
He said fireworks remain illegal in the national forests.<\/p>\n