Fire Closes Popular Sloan Shooting Area Sunday

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) closed the popular Sloan shooting area south of Las Vegas due to a fire that began late Saturday. Entrances to the general area several miles south of Henderson along Las Vegas Blvd. were closed on Sunday while mop-up efforts were on-going. Much of the area had to be closed due to the danger of firefighters being injured by stray bullets, some of which can travel over a mile.

Firefighters reported that the fire started in the back country area late Saturday, beyond where the dirt road on the left in the above photo is. The cause is unknown and it has not yet been attributed to shooters. Displaced shooters moved about half a mile down the road and were visible from I-15.

The Sloan area is frequently the site of shooting-related incidents, including deaths, injuries, and illegal dumping. Many casual shooters use this over-trafficked area with little regard to safety. Many shoot without safe backstops and it is common for shooters to go downrange with someone still firing next to them.

Shooters need to be extremely careful as we are now in the dry season. Shooters on public lands need to refrain from shooting at steel targets, Tannerite, or using tracers. Always carry a shovel and a fire extinguisher. Do not shoot at targets in thick brush or grass. Clean up your brass and trash. Don't illegally dump.

Abuse of public lands gets them closed. Many former Californians are familiar with fire restrictions that curtain public land shooting for much of the year. 

Shooters at a new location. Note the poor backstops