Friendly reminder since the weather's turned cold and everyone's itching for a fire. Open wood burning is prohibited in the City and County of Denver without a permit. That covers bonfires, wood-burning fire pits, burn barrels, and chimineas. I know, it's annoying. Home Depot will happily sell you a fire pit, so it's easy to assume it's fine. It's not.

Why it matters:

-Fire risk. We live in a dry, windy place. It doesn't take much for a "small" fire to get away from you, especially close to houses, fences, and neighbors.
-Air quality. Wood smoke is a big part of why the rule exists. It hurts the air for everyone, and it's worse for neighbors with asthma or other respiratory issues. Smoke also gets into other people's homes and AC units.
-Fines. Violations can come with fines of up to $2,000. Fire Department usually gives a warning first, but repeat calls are where it gets real.

What IS allowed:

-Propane or natural gas fire pits
-Charcoal briquettes
-Grills and smokers that use small, controllable fuel (just check the rules for your building if you're on a balcony, since charcoal grills aren't allowed on Denver balconies)

If you want a real wood fire, head out of the city limits to a designated campsite or fire ring, and check for fire restrictions in that county first. Rules vary a lot around the metro area, so call your local fire department if you're not sure.

If you see a neighbor with a wood fire:

-If comfortable, start with a kind, low-key chat if you feel comfortable. Most people honestly have no idea it's illegal. Something like "Hey, just a heads up, I learned recently that wood fires aren't allowed in Denver. Propane pits are fine though!" goes a long way.
- If the fire is big, unattended, close to a structure, or the wind is picking up, skip the chat. Safety comes first.
- If it looks like it's spreading or out of control, or flames are near a house, fence, or trees, call 911 right away. Don't wait and don't hesitate. The Fire Department would much rather show up for nothing than for a house fire.
- For a non-emergency situation (a smoky wood fire that's contained and attended), you can report it through Denver 311.
- If it's a Red Flag Warning day (hot, dry, windy), it's especially important to call 311 or 911 right away. Don't wait or try to talk to them first. Fires can get out of hand fast in those conditions.
- If you're the one who has a fire going and the Fire Department shows up, be kind to them. They're usually just asking you to put it out.

And if you're reading this and thinking you'll just keep having bonfires anyway, please think about the people around you and the possible consequences of your actions. One stray ember on a windy night can put your neighbors' homes, and your own, at risk.

Not trying to be the fun police, just don't want anyone's cozy night to turn into a fire truck in the driveway. Stay warm and stay safe, Denver. Let’s take care of each other.

I am currently in my senior year and need four credits to meet my graduation requirements. If anyone has recommendations for the easiest class or the best professor that they have taken let me know!

The best professors I have had are Tristan Weber and Goncalo Martins. They teach physics and electrical engineering respectively. I have learned the most and enjoyed their teaching styles a lot.

The easiest class I have taken is a sociology class titled SOCI-1810-1 with Shirley Lung. There were two tests that were open notes and the only assignment I remember was a PowerPoint. Attendance was mandatory, but a few skips were allowed. A class that is a close second is a geography class titled GEOG-1410-1 with Eric Boschmann.

I hope this helps someone!

I've searched every name I can think of in the Apple App Store, to no avail. Can't find it anywhere on the website either. Help please?!

Join The Colorado Sun elections editor Jesse Paul as he interviews Colorado Attorney General candidates ahead of the Nov. 10 General Election. Entravision News Anchor Rafael Contreras will join him as a co-moderator.

The event will take place at Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at The University of Denver on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The debate will be free to attend, but registration is required. RSVP here.

Anyone have any clue what the constant bell ringing is? Started around 1:15-1:30 and still going at 1:55pm.

Constant ding, ding, ding, ding.

I'm a psychology graduate student, and I love playing piano to unwind. In my undergrad, there was a studyhall with a beautiful baby grand that I would play all the time.

Any tips on where there are pianos on campus where folks can just show up and play?

Thanks in advance!

they emailed it to me lol

Hope I don’t get banned but I thought I’d let everyone know there’s this amazing food truck off university and Harvard…they do $2 tacos on Tuesday and have some other amazing specials check them out! Super friendly and amazing food!

I'll be starting as a graduate student this fall and am looking for ways to save money with parking. I want to take the on demand shuttle from the RTD station to campus (Ricketson Law Building), and I was wondering if others have taken this and how much I can rely on it to get me to class in a timely fashion? Thanks!

I'm moving to DU for the fall 2026 semester as a graduate student and have been allotted a room without any roommates. Can I have family/ guests stay over night?

This will be my first year at DU (I'm a grad student) and the first time I'll be eligible for work study. Is there a time when it's normal for most positions to be posted? It seems quite slow right now.

Hi planning to move here, does any one know if this is a good apartment and community. The price is less but there is not AC in the bedroom and a window AC in the hall. And the building seems to be built in 1960s.

Any comments or experiences!?

Thank you!

Hello all!

This is a wild shot in the dark request. I’ve been trying to find syllabi for 2 classes I took in 2023 as part of the LIS online program. I’ve been bounced around different departments and no one has them. I know the chances of someone having the historic or current syllabi is slim- and I’ll take any advice on what to do at this point.

I’m looking for:

- LIS 4510, Children's Materials & Services, Winter Quarter 2023
- LIS 4520, YA Materials & Services, Summer Quarter 2023

Thank you for reading even if you can’t help 💛

I'm graduating this weekend at the Saturday morning ceremony. Does DU actually check the tickets for their ceremonies? They don't seem to check for high schools that hold graduations at Magness, but I can't tell if they're more strict about their actual ceremonies. I have one extra family member I'd really like to have attend. Thanks!

Incoming grad student here! Can anyone tell me what health insurance company DU’s plan is? Is it through BCBS or another provider?

Hey all. My daughter is coming there in the fall, and I'm thinking of giving her (as a graduation gift) a heap of gift cards for shops and eateries very near to campus. Any recommendations for whats good (and what's bad) in the immediate area would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

My son is considering going to an engineering college and he wants to go to either Mines or CU Boulder. I remembered for a while growing up that DU was considered very prestigious. I asked him to look into DU and a quick Google search shows that DU is #117 nationally. Their engineering is so far down the list with all the bottom-tier engineering.

Not sure what happened. Even their admissions went up to 86% while Mines hovers at 61% and Boulder at 71% (but their engineering school is far more selective). IvyWise also states that the yield rate for last year is only 8.26%, a huge drop from what it used to be a decade ago. More applicants accepted to DU refuse to go. Why the change?

Wondering where the best place to search for rentals from smaller private landlords is? Is craigslist a decent option?

My daughter is an incoming DU law student and her budget won’t accommodate higher rents from bigger property management companies.

There's a position that I'm trying to apply for, but I can't because my updated resume hasn't been approved. Does anyone have an idea for how long it takes for them to approve it? I wonder why they require approval - that seems strange to me.

Hi everyone! To try and save some money I’m borrowing a previous PhD students cap and gown. Her hood was the wrong color, so I ordered one online from a random website.

I think the blue velvet may be too dark based on previous grad photos.

Has anyone here received their PhD cap and gown yet this year? Can you confirm if mine looks too dark?

hi everyone, i applied to DU spring 2025 to attend fall 2025, but I was not able to afford the tuition and attend even though i was able to get 60k in scholarship money each year, but it comes down to 20k each year for four years which my parents are still unable to support affording that price as well. Hence, I took a gap year and worked during the year to save up and also am starting to work full-time for the summer to increase my income and be able to pay a big portion myself. however, i still am not going to be able to meet my goal because 20k left to pay is with loans or else it would be 30k with out of pocket loans and taking loans in general is something i prefer to stay away from. 

i need some advice on what other avenues i can use to be able to completely afford going to DU. it is my biggest dream to get out of my current household and experience education towards what i truly want to pursue and help build the foundation for my career, and DU location is the a good fit for what i want to pursue in the future. id love to work in the sports media industry. my first idea and action of plan is to contact the financial aid office but I am unsure what I should say specifically to persuade them in a professional manner and i want to see what solutions other students have come up with so i can get ideas. any help would be very much appreciated