Chelan County Commissioners to Look at Ban on Certain Exploding Devices During Fire Season, Other Restrictions

Chelan County Commissioners are considering whether to ban to use of items known as exploding targets and incendiary ammunition during wildfire season.

Commissioner Bob Bugert says those items have a history of causing wildfires in the Wenatchee area.

"The recent fires last year, at No. 2 Canyon and Twentyfive Mile Creek Fire, which burned more than 22,000 acres, those were, to the best our fire marshal can tell, were because of incendiary targets," said Bugert.

Exploding targets are objects used for recreational target shooting, which produce a visual and audible display when struck by a rifle bullet.

An example of incendiary ammunition is fireworks.

County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on May 3 at 11 a.m. to consider whether to ban those items during wildfire season.  

County Fire Marshal Steve Rinaldi has done research on the topic, and is recommending they be prohibited starting on June 1 of every year.

The U.S. Forest Services has a year-round ban on the use of exploding targets on its properties.

Chelan County Commissioners are also looking at the creation of 3 stages of travel and activity restrictions during wildfire season.

The first 2 stages include restrictions on the operation of motor vehicles off of a roadway and restrictions to outdoor fires and the use of open flame devices.

Stage 3 would temporarily ban target shooting outside of gun ranges but allows for hunting in open areas.

It also would give commissioners the ability to place travel and activity restrictions in specific areas if conditions were ripe for wildfire.