A.R. says:
"When it comes to forest fires, I try to just use common sense and be responsible. Everybody has to keep their own house in order -- cleaning up the yard and so forth. It's really important, too, to make sure that people don't carelessly start a fire by, say, letting a campfire burn unattended. I think we ought to have good communication with firefighters, since they've got the experience to know what to do about fires. If the fire company came around and said we needed to evacuate, I’d definitely get out of there."

Open-ended responses about A.R.'s views:

Keeping consumables in yard under control & away from dwellings is very important if a fire does happen.

Sensible -- points out that we should be educated about the things that are within our control.

I think we need to support our fire company more as they are volunteers and put forth a lot of time to protect our community.

I wouldn't definitely get out of there if a firefighter told me to evacuate, I'd stay and try to protect my stuff.

Leaving property is a personal choice, not to be dictated.

Possible bossy neighbor

I do agree that the firefighters are experienced and would follow their direction in an emergency.

Good view.

Very alert person. A neighbor I would Love to have.

What does cleaning my yard have to do with forest fires.

Takes responsibility for personal fire awareness of home and is willing to follow necessary evacuation orders, if needed.

I agree with Educating the Public about forest fires and knowing how to be prepared in case fires happen near your home or business.

I agree with AR viewpoint, he has said many things I would of said. Maybe educating the public + little more on the dangers of fires would make people think before starting a fire.

I totally agree with his logic about common sense and listening to a trained official.

Thanks to over building in the last several years we have less & less forests and woods to worry about.

I also think it is very important to financially support your local fire company + EMS unit with annual donations. This would ensure upgrade of equipment when needed.

I agree, but there needs to be more education on how not to start a fire -- starting with our children at a very young age!

Unfortunately most people in my area keep their properties a mess. My next door neighbor has old plywood, huge piles of wood debris and loads of junk scattered all over his back yard. I do not agree with A.R. on one point in that if the fire company told me to evacuate I would not unless I could get all my animals out also.

He stresses personal responsibility with which I agree. He does not however, put enough responsibility or emphasis on governmental authorities.

I have to take care of my house.

If I were to evacuate my home, I would make that choice on my own.

Be responsible and help.

B.K. says:
"What we really need is good, detailed planning for how to handle forest fires. We need to make our decisions based on the best scientific information. I think the public should also be involved in deciding what to do, since it's our homes and backyards that are affected. If regular people get educated about how fires happen, we'll be able to take care of our own neighborhoods. That way firefighting won't get politicized or bogged down in red tape. I'm also worried that some people want to take too much of a "hands off" approach to nature, because I don't think that good plans for keeping people safe are going to hurt the environment."

Open-ended responses about B.K.'s views:

Ignorant and uninsightful. To a certain degree fires are a natural occurrence. There is a great deal of primary growth stimulated by and after fires. To put people’s luxury ahead of nature is the undoing of us all.

Not very environmentally friendly.

you never know what a fire will do so much depends on the weather

I trust the professionals!

Safety first. Firemen know there stuff. Educate public. But too many making decision who actually don't know things -- not good.

There are detailed plans. People in General know how forest fires start. When there is too much kindling things burn faster.

I don't feel the general public has enough knowledge or experience to make decisions about forest fire management. Education is important!

Negates standardized plans which help firefighters, O.E.M. and the public respond appropriately in emergency situations where emotional or physical fatigue could alter good decision making.

Glad he is not from my town.

I believe the public should be educated about forest fires but should not be involved in decision making. Leave that to the pros.

It is excellent.

I think B.K.'s logic means well, but the common person most likely would never get enough training to know how to "handle" a forest fire.

Yes you must be aware of dangers -- only a fool would stay in path of fire -- the same people have a nuculer plant in area with greater danger

Turned off by B.K.'s judgmentalism.

A plan to address forest fires with contingencies based on the details of the fire and the threat to people & homes is critical. Letting the public decide -- don't agree. Need professionals who understand the complexities of firefighting.

It's important to start education regarding forest fire information in the schools.

Most regular people will not educate themselves about much of anything, no less forest fires. They rely on authorities to know what to do.

I strongly agree w/ the first sentence of this statement. It gets further from my views as it progresses!

BK is a Jackass.

I feel a lot of fires are started when they control burning.

For many years people have moved from a suburban areas to rural areas. They do not have life experience in forest fires. These people are at most risk in forest fires.

Scientific info is great but experience + training is better.

I don't understand what they are talking about!

C.J. says:
"I worry sometimes that the people in charge, like the Forest Fire Service, aren't really in tune with what regular people living in this region want. We need to make sure that they're listening to our concerns -- like how expensive and time-consuming it can be to follow all the recommendations for fire safety -- and letting us know what they're doing and why they're doing it. I also worry that we interfere with nature too much when we try to control fires."

Open-ended responses about C.J.'s views:

This person has never been exposed to a forest fire.

Peoples lives should come before nature! Nature will rejuvenate itself. Just return to an area that has burnt and you will usually see it returning to life!

It is time consuming and expensive to undo damage we have done to the environment in the past, and it needs to be a part of life in the future.

I only agree with the fire dept letting us know what they are doing and why.

I think C.J. is a profound idiot!!

Can't believe people think this way -- you need to control a fire.

The Forest Fire Service people are trained and knowledgeable.

Trees are part of nature. Fires start by lots of different reasons not just careless people. Is he saying we should let fires burn out of control?

Not realistic. This person probably drives a Volvo.

Firefighters are regular people too, with job families etc. Controlled Burning of underbrush helps control a forest fire.

I disagree with CJ viewpoint. I feel the Forest Fire Service does listen to us. I also believe control fires by fire department are very important so we don't have a major forest fire in our neighborhood.

I feel C.J. is misinformed about the F.F.S., because I know they are always under "FLACK" from the communities, so there-for their always in tune. As for the environment, a forest fire or controlled burning does actually a lot of "good" for nature on the regrowth side!!!

Most of the forest fire fighters are our neighbors and locals who know our forests + keep risks low with controlled burning.

There are many "controlled fires" in our area. The only problem with this is we are not informed when they will be having these "controlled fires." I never know if it is a real forest fire or not/ It can cause panic and anxiety not knowing.

Need for communication & better understanding of what's being done.

Prevention is the best policy. Even if forest fire rangers were to have tunnel vision with their concerns, they are the ones with the knowledge and experience. We all need to work together -- with listening as the key ingredient.

Being oblivious to possibilities is idiotic. Intelligent limited engineering of the environment is acceptible.

Get a Grip C.J. + move to the City!

Don't really like his way of thinking!

CJ has his head up his ASS.

Many recommendations that the fire service makes are time consuming and expensive for home owners. This area that I live in is the NJ Pinelands. Most properties are heavily wooded, covered with pine needles and leaves. Most people have a lot of acreage to keep a lot of property cleared of pine needles, leaves + have no vegetation around the house is difficult. Also we are suppose to conserve water. I use a lot of mulch for my plants and mulch is very flammable.

I don't think people put this much thought into Forest Fire Service personnel and practices.

I know we need to control burn, but there should be a way to also help nature. We are building house all over. We are taking where they live all nature has is what we control burn.

Alot of people in my town work with Forest Fire Service or the local fire dept.

Of course we interfere with nature too much, we need to, to protect ourselves.

The forest fighters are trained people, they go to College to know what they are doing. Why should they have to let us decide how to do their job. They should let us know if we are in danger!!

D.M. says:
"Forest fires are a big risk in this area. We need to focus on keeping people safe, even if that means sacrificing someone's property or doing something that environmentalists might not like. I know people have other things to worry about too, but it's still really important for everyone to make sure they're not creating a fire risk to their neighbors. Otherwise the authorities might have to step in, or maybe their insurance rates should go up. The main thing, though, is to make sure that every fire -- whether it's a natural one, an accident, or a controlled burn -- is under control."

Open-ended responses about D.M.'s views:

I don't think he has much of a point of a thought -- sounds like witch hunt talk. Probably lives in his recliner in front of the TV

Middle of the road. Agree some.

What does sacrificing someone's property mean ?!

If people are out of control on their property authorities have a right to step in & have them clean it up. Don't agree on insurance issue.

Forest fires are part of the Pinelands.

Makes good sense.

Sacrificing someone's property is to devastating for me to comprehend. I feel all measure should be taken to respect property but not at the risk of human life.

I totally agree with D.M.

Not a big risk -- years ago yes -- now no

Also wildlife should be protected above property!

Priority of protection. People first!

"... even if it means sacrificing someone's property or doing something that environmentalists might not like." That is the only statement I have a problem with in this viewpoint.

Disseminating information on fire safety is reasonable, forcing compliance by law borders on unconstitutional.

I strongly agree that it would ideal to have people fined or have their homeowner's insurance rates go up if they are creating a fire risk. I do not agree that we should sacrifice environmental concerns or a person's property.

D.M. almost has it right, almost

I don't think there is enough information D.M. to answer these questions.

E.B. says:
"The environment in this region is naturally fire-prone, and that's got to be the main consideration. We should use the best science at our disposal in order to figure out what kind of impacts we're having on the landscape, and to create good plans. That way we can mimic the natural fire regime, while still reducing the risk to areas where there are homes. We also have to be concerned about unrestricted development -- if people are out there building houses without thinking about fire safety, it makes it tougher to protect them without sacrificing the ecology of this area."

Open-ended responses about E.B.'s views:

Very common sense. Planning w/ respect to land area : development ratio coupled w/ education makes sense.

New Gretna is in CAPRA + Pinelands protected areas so development limited.

Don't allow building in fire zone --

On the money.

it isn't clear enough in E.B.'s statement

Fire Co should be ok to controll burn around home in a town without a lot of paper work. Or even the home own.

Good.

I don't think that home is a issue? He talks about saving homes and the ecological protection too! Which one is he concerned about?

I agree to a certain point with every one who has expressed an opinion here. No point of view was wrong. It's about weaving these views together. I'm not really knowledged with forest fires issues.

Very good!

E.B. views are right on!

I agree.

The Pineland Commission is too involved with pine snakes and not the people who are life long residents trying to build new house on property.

Fire safety should be a concern when construction occurs

Forethought always beats reactionism.

Strongly agree, even though this area where I live is Pinelands. The Pineland Commission allows rampant building without assessing environmental concerns. They allow people to develop + fill in wetlands and allow people to buy property out here + clear cut every tree to put in a pool + a grass lawn.

it's a good idea to follow E.B.'s views for both the wetlands and forests in our area. However, E.B. would probably be lynched if he or she was the decision maker.

Good luck controlling overbuilding in N.J.

Individualism:

• 42. In a fair system, people with more ability should earn more.
• 29. Everyone should have an equal chance to succeed and fail without government interference.
• 25. If people have the vision and ability to acquire property, they ought to be allowed to enjoy it.
• 36. People who are successful in business have a right to enjoy their wealth as they see fit.
• 37. Competitive markets are almost always the best way to supply people with things they need.

Fatalism:

• 28. It seems that whichever party you vote for things go on pretty much the same.
• 32. I feel that life is a lottery.
• 33. Cooperation with others rarely works.
• 34. The future is too uncertain for a person to make serious plans.
• 41. Most people make friends only because friends are useful for them.

Hierarchy:

• 24. One of the problems with people today is that they challenge authority too often.
• 26. The best way to provide for future generations is to preserve the customs and practices of our past.
• 38. Society works best when people obey all rules and regulations.
• 39. Respect for authority is one of the most important things that children should learn.
• 40. Different roles for different sorts of people enable people to live together more harmoniously.

Egalitarianism:

• 23. The world would be a more peaceful place if its wealth were divided more equally among nations.
• 27. What our country needs is a fairness revolution to make the distribution of goods more equal.
• 30. I support a tax shift so that the burden falls more heavily on corporations and people with large incomes.
• 31. We need to dramatically reduce inequalities between men and women.
• 35. Decisions in business and government should rely more heavily on popular participation.