Contacts:

Barb Timock, Public Affairs Officer USFS, 719-553-1415 Ken Smith, Public Affairs Officer BLM, 719-269-8553

FIRE RESTRICTIONS END FRIDAY FOR FEDERAL PUBLIC LANDS
IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO

PUEBLO, Colo., July 6, 2006... Recreationists, start your campfires! Fire restrictions end Friday, July 7 at 8:00 a.m. MST (Colorado) and CST (Kansas) on federal public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office.

Fire danger ratings are now significantly lower with afternoon and evening showers predicted through next week. Fuel moisture levels have increased along with humidity. In addition, recent fire activity has been limited to small, single tree fires caused by lightning.

Federal fire managers agree that the monsoonal moisture has arrived and indications are that it will stay for some time. Of course, if conditions dry out in the weeks to come, fire restrictions could be imposed again.

Recreationists are reminded not to become complacent with the recent rains. Never leave a campfire unattended and be sure campfires are dead out before leaving an area. Fireworks are always illegal on national forest system lands.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS
To view a state-wide list of fire restrictions, go to the web at:
    " Colorado fire restrictions: http://www.dola.state.co.us/oem/PublicInformation/firebans/firebans2006.htm

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NOTE: The media-only Fire Information Phone Line is active at 719-553-1640 for a recorded message of the most up-to-date wildfire information for the BLM and U.S. Forest Service in Southeastern Colorado.