From: RAKNGLTF@aol.com
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 1995 11:45:32 -0400
Subject: Fwd: arson fire

FYI,

I have note followed up on this yet this morning, but I wanted to alert all
reporters to this issue as quickly as possible.

Robin Kane
NGLTF Media Director
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj:    arson fire
Date:    95-07-27 11:24:55 EDT
From:    Jeff4Echo
To:      RAK NGLTF

Please help get the word out as soon as possible


Press Release

For Immediate Release


Arsonists burn down the office building of Echo Magazine, the Southwest most
widely distributed gay and lesbian newsmagazine


Phoenix-At approximately 11:30pm July 26, a fire started at the office
building which housed Echo Magazine. The entire building burned to the ground
and was a complete loss. The Echo is the most widely distributed gay and
lesbian news magazine in the Southwest. Investigators believe it was arson.

As late as 7am this morning, flames continued to shoot more than 30 feet into
the air as fire fighters gave up trying to save the building. The two-alarm,
three-story blaze destroyed the building and fire fighters could only try to
contain the fire to keep it from spreading to other structures.

Jeff Ofstedahl, General Manager for the Echo, said, "we've lost almost
everything. But we are going to see this as an opportunity to rebuild and
grow even bigger." Ofstedahl would not speculate as to whether or not the
arson fire was a "hate crime." "It's just too early to tell right now. Yes,
we get our share of threats and crank calls, but nothing of note lately," he
said.

An arson investigator said, though he has not been able to examine the
building closely, that he believes the fire was deliberately set at the South
side of the building. It only took a few minutes for the all-wood structure
to go up in flames.

"Make no mistake," Ofstedahl said. "We will be out again on time, on
deadline."

For more information, calls are being taken at the Valley of the Sun Gay and
Lesbian Community Center at (602) 234-2752.