WILDFIRE BURNING IN OURAY COUNTY
A wildfire was burning Thursday evening in Ouray County on Sims Mesa.
Firefighters were at the scene, and the public was being urged to stay away. Residents in the area of Sims Mesa Road, Government Springs Road and Wild Cat Canyon were under an evacuation order, according to Montrose County.
The fire was burning along the edge of Ouray and Montrose counties. The evacuation area was about a 5-mile radius. The fire was releasing a large column of smoke.
Grand Mesa Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest officials planned earlier this week to conduct a prescribed burn in the area.
Winds in the area, according to the National Weather Service, were 20 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph expected Thursday night.
City passes emergency camping ban.
LOVELAND » Unauthorized encampments in the city will be subject to criminal enforcement and “civil abatement” after the City Council passed an emergency camping ban Tuesday.
After a presentation from city staff members and a public comment period, the council voted 8-1 to add provisions to the municipal code that prohibit unauthorized overnight camping on public property and allow the removal of the items within encampments by city workers, with certain conditions.
The additions to the code define camping or encampment as “use of property for the purpose of unauthorized overnight occupancy,” excluding napping during the day or picnicking. Overnight occupancy of vehicles is also included.
Louisville considers measures for gun safety.
BOULDER COUNTY » Louisville officials have taken the first steps toward enacting gun safety measures within the city.
The firearm regulation legislation includes six ordinances in total, including one that would ban the sale and possession of assault rifles.
The council unanimously voted to approve moving forward with all six ordinances. A public hearing is set for June 7. If adopted, the ordinances also would ban trigger activators, confirm that the legal age to possess firearms in Louisville is 21 years of age, restrict the possession of “ghost guns,” regulate the open carry of firearms in certain places, require specific signs at firearms dealers, and impose a waiting period on the purchase of firearms.