Advocates for a county-wide consolidated fire and emergency response authority still believe there is a path forward, even though the proposal suffered another setback last week when the Ouray City Council declined to consider an agreement.

Ouray County EMS Chief Nate McCullough said he thinks the county’s EMS service and the Ridgway Fire Protection District alone could continue to form the Red Mountain Fire Authority by Jan. 1.

County Attorney Leo Caselli took a more cautious outlook, writing i...