The Board of Delta County Commissioners, in concert with other Western Slope county governments, on Monday adopted an immediate ban on "open fires."

According to the wording of the county's ban, "For the purpose of this order, 'open fires' shall be defined as all outdoor fires, including but not limited to agricultural burning, campfires, warming fires, fused explosives, fireworks of all kinds and brands (except with a permit issued pursuant to state or municipal laws), and the prescribed burning of fence rows, wildlands, trash and debris, but (does) not include gas barbecues and charcoal fires in enclosed fire pans of permanent fireplace locations."

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A 400-acre in-holding along the Gunnison River in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is now in public hands, Western Rivers Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management announced this week. The acquisition secures the conservation of 400 acres of fish and wildlife habitat along the Gunnison River that was proposed for gravel mining and real estate development.

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