The Guns & Ammo Network

Bachelor Party Boneheads Start Wildfire with Shotgun Shell

by Robert W. Hunnicutt • July 3, 2012 • 15 comments

The huge Sunflower Fire in Arizona that has burned more than 18,000 acres was apparently started by some bachelor party celebrants firing an incendiary shotgun shell that ignited tinder-dry brush.

True-crime website The Smoking Gun reports that five local men celebrating one’s upcoming wedding organized a shooting party in the desert and shot the flame-throwing round at a cardboard box. The group tried to stomp out the blaze and called 911 for help, but by that point the fire was too large to extinguish.

The news report identified the cartridge used as made by Fiocchi, but I suspect it was produced by one of the small custom loaders that make novelty ammo, like American Specialty Ammo.

Dragon’s Breath and other flare shotshells are all good fun if used properly, but a bone-dry desert is not the place for them for reasons that should be obvious. Over a lake, sure. Over dessicated brush, not so much.

The reveler who shot the shell will appear in federal court next week to face a three-count misdemeanor complaint. It is certainly true that wildfires can start in all sorts of ways, but starting one with a gun makes all gun owners look bad. Combining guns and drunken bachelor parties, as immortalized in TV reality shows like “My Big Redneck Wedding,” is a really bad idea. Keep that sort of behavior in the strip club where it belongs.

In Culture & Politics, Shotguns • Tagged
  • 277Volt

    Watched this last night on local AZ news. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Being a bachelor party I'm sure copious amounts of alcohol were involved which first and foremost should negate even touching a firearm let alone touch off any sort of incendiary round, no matter what season. Arizona is always, always dry.

  • Heretic

    At least it was an accident. I believe some of these fires are being set on purpose.

  • Ray

    Probably need to burn anyhow, no harm done.

    • Richard

      hat a bone headed stupid thing to say, would it be so lighty hearted if it were your property?

  • snoopycomputer

    Welcome to the new American Adolescence, spans from 12 to about 45.

  • AlwaysPrepared.Info

    Good grief. The taxpayers are out $6 million due to this idiocy.

  • http://twitter.com/whoisjohngalt58 @whoisjohngalt58

    Terminal puberty leads to a wildfire.. ain't that rich?

    Guns and drunks are a bad mix to begin with. I won't hunt with people who insist on bringing beer. keep that for the BBQ after the hunt. dumb a*sses need to go to the strip club and have a pissed off wife to be, instead of burning down homes.

  • Gary Weeks

    Ray, that's a pretty irresponsible comment "needs to burn anyway", tell that the firemen/women that responde to those fires no matter what and how many wildfires have you put out in your lifetime Ray? I'd like to see you get in front of a firestorm and try extinguishing it. NEEDS TO BURN ANYWAY, RAY?
    I'll bet you cross a road covered with water too? Don't call for a rescue.

  • wolf

    Idiots, alcohol and guns. This is the deadly trinity. The worst part is, in the minds of the non gun owning public, all gun owners act this way. Nothing could be further from the truth.
    Years ago, here in Tucson, an Icelandic visitor used a dragons breath round at our old shooting area near Marana.he was told not to,, but fired it anyway, leaving us to fight the fires with etools and sand….keep idiots away from socalled specialty ammo.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jorge.amselle Jorge Amselle

    In my experience most strip clubs won't let you shoot Dragon's Breath loads.

    • DrSique

      Strip clubs, as a general rule, won't let you shoot any load.

  • Jeepers Creepers

    These 12 gauge loads are meant to be used by LEO's to scare the brown stuffing out of POS's. I bought 20 rounds 12 years ago. fired two at local bare ground shooting range. I still have the other 18. And proberly always will have.

    • bubba

      Want to sell them? I'am having this party……….

  • Gene Du Bose

    In the immortal words of Forest Gump; "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES and that all I've got to say about that."

  • vinnie

    The truth of the matter is we (or- i- me- my , really think im the only responsible gun owner ) as responsible gun owners – collectors will be loosing our rite to owN A GUN shortly ,. there is too much bad press and the media and anti gun crowd will run with these stories ( and the colorodo incident ) untill our hobby – sport is snuffed out . reading some of the comments above gives me lees faith in the gun owning comunity . we need a leader who can intelligently argue the rite . this needs to happen as soon as possible or we will loose it all if its not in the workws allready .. comunicate – orginize – intelligently to keep our rite to bear arms . we need the strip club and let it burn crowd home with there six pack so they can keep there mouths shut !