The U.S. Forest Service has banned explosive targets across the Northern Region, citing concerns about public safety and the potential to ignite wildfires.

Regional Forester Faye Krueger signed a closure order for all national forest lands in the region, including the Flathead and Kootenai national forests.

In the past two years, exploding targets have been identified as the cause of 16 wildfires in western states, costing taxpayers more than $33 million in fire suppression costs.

Forest Service law enforcement have observed a steady increase in the use of exploding targets over the past few years. The targets can be purchased legally, and they generally consist of two or more dry chemical components that become explosive when mixed together.

The separate, unmixed components are legal to possess on national forest lands, but once they are mixed, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives classifies them as an explosive.

The targets explode when struck by a bullet, and the resulting fireball can ignite vegetation. The force of the explosion also can launch debris at high speeds that injure or kill bystanders.

“Explosing targets pose a very real safety threat to visitors and our employees,”  Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said. “In the past year alone, at least 16 wildfires on national forests have been associated with exploding targets, causing millions of dollars in suppression costs while threatening the safety and well-being of surrounding communities.”

The closure is effective immediately. Anyone caught using an exploding target faces a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment up to six months.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.