Media Advisory: Fire information hotline established for media

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.—With fire restrictions in effect and some of the driest conditions seen since 2002, the fire information officer with the West Zone of the Upper Colorado River (UCR) Interagency Fire Management Unit has activated a fire information hotline for media use only. Members of the media may call (970) 244-3104 24/7 to learn about wildfires burning on Bureau of Land Management public lands, as well as national forest lands. Please note that this number will provide current information to the media on fire activity for an area roughly encompassing Collbran/De Beque to the east, Douglas Pass to the north, the Utah state line to the west and Sewemup Mesa to the south. The hotline will be updated as significant, new information becomes available.

Statewide fire restrictions can be viewed at http://www.dola.state.co.us/oem/PublicInformation/firebans/firebans2006.htm. In addition to the UCR website listed above, other useful fire-related websites include http://www.nifc.gov/ and http://gacc.nifc.gov/rmcc/. For further information about the hotline, contact Mel Lloyd at (970) 244-3097.

-BLM-