Here’s something many of us who shoot outside don’t think about too often, but when popping off rounds in the dry summer, the risk of sparking a wildfire goes up immensely. To keep this concern front and center on recreational shooters’ minds, NSSF is reminding all of us to take precautions so we don’t accidently ignite a wildfire.

NSSF’s “Help Prevent Wildfires” public service announcements campaign reminds recreational shooters and other outdoor enthusiasts to be mindful of their surroundings and to take precautions, such as:

• Being aware of official restrictions on shooting and other activities in fire-prone areas
• Not using tracer rounds, exploding targets or ammunition that is steel-jacketed or contains steel-core components
• Knowing that a vehicle’s hot exhaust systems can ignite dry vegetation
• Making sure all campfires and smoking materials are properly extinguished

There were more than 56,500 wildfires in 2023 that burned more than 2.7 million acres of land throughout the country, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. These fires caused billions of dollars in damage plus hardship for both people and wildlife. Wildfires are tragic in many ways, including that in most cases they can be prevented when people pay attention to their surroundings and follow safe practices. Some 90 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by human actions.

“We are all aware of the terrible destruction and human suffering caused by wildfires, and we should do everything possible not to be the cause of one,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “As gun owners, we care about safeguarding our communities and our natural resources, and so we remind everyone to check the fire-danger levels in their area and take precautions before heading outdoors to pursue our warm-weather activities, including recreational shooting.”