By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Investigators have found the Dog Mountain wildfire that scorched about 200 acres in early May was caused by an exploding target used by someone.
Who that someone is, they don’t yet know, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
The blaze that began on private timberland owned by Port Blakley was fought by about 100 firefighters and two helicopters. Dog Mountain south of Glenoma at the east end of Riffe Lake is a widely-used favorite spot for hang gliders.
DNR spokesperson Janet Pearce said target shooters use the devices which can be purchased commercially or homemade to identify if they’ve hit their mark. But they are prohibited on land protected by DNR, she said.
Pearce said an individual determined to have caused a wildfire can be liable for the cost of suppressing it. She didn’t yet know the total spent on the Dog Mountain fire.
“It can be a pretty extensive payback,” she said.
Officials who manage forest lands are asking for extra caution this holiday weekend, citing the risks of fireworks, campfires and other activities during wildfire-friendly conditions.
Fireworks are prohibited in National Forests and on state-protected public and private lands.
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For background, read “Breaking news: Large brush fire burning south of Glenoma” on Saturday May 4, 2013, here
See the rules for target shooting on DNR managed lands, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter