Agency records of wildfires caused by firearms use in the United States

Karen C. Short; Mark A. Finney

doi:10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103622

Treesearch

Agency records of wildfires caused by firearms use in the United States

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Karen C. Short, Mark A. Finney

Year:

2022

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2022.103622

Source:

Fire Safety Journal. 131: 103622.

Download (PDF 2.35 MB)

Download (PDF 2.35 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/65057.pdf

Abstract

While previously disputed as a plausible ignition source, civilian firearms use has emerged as a wildfire cause of concern in the United States (US). The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) included it as a newly recognized fire cause in the wildfire-reporting data standard approved in 2020. Here we report on shooting-caused wildfire ignitions using data mapped over to the new NWCG cause standard from historical wildfire records spanning 1992–2018. This is the first time that data on shooting-related fires have been assembled and summarized for the US, with the intention of raising awareness concerning this relatively small but impactful cause of preventable wildfires.

Keywords

wildfire, firearms, fire statistics, prevention

Citation

Short, Karen C.; Finney, Mark A. 2022. Agency records of wildfires caused by firearms use in the United States. Fire Safety Journal. 131: 103622.