Comments so far on this story:

1. Doug wrote on October 31, 2007 7:06 AM:
"The fires will come, regardless. Fuel is not the major factor. Remote location and lack of resources to deal with them in these locations is the central problem. We have technology today to spot the fires and quell them much, much earlier than we do today. Doing so is the key to reducing their damage. The most effective effort government could perform is to spend resources to spot fires quicker and put them out quicker. Using the Predator aircraft, for an excellent example, to fly into the smoke, see the exact location of the flames, and drop their loads more precisely would go a long way toward reducing all of the damage caused by these fires."

2. San Marcos says, wrote on October 31, 2007 7:15 AM:
"It certainly would be wise to inventory our existing homes and reduce fire danger. But what happens if next time it is an earthquake ? We really do need a large Corps of Volunteers in San Diego County. We need them to be trained in all types of disaster preparedness, not just fire. We also need to force our city and county officials to forbid new construction in extreme fire-hazard areas, especialy those that have no way of adequate ingress and egress. The city and county officials get re-elected by the monies from the builders that ignore safe practices. We need to NOT allow it. We also need to have every homeowner obtain and have training in the use of fire retardant gel - it saved homes. So did garden hoses and shovels. We need to step up to the plate."

3. Steve wrote on October 31, 2007 9:27 AM:
"Very self serving. Only Kay can prevent forrest fires!"

4. janet wrote on October 31, 2007 12:32 PM:
"What part was self-serving? Most people I know have a false belief that brush needs cleared on public lands and they don't need to do anything personally. In the past 4 years, we've done a huge amount of work to make our house safer, at great expense. I'd like to have a rough idea of what I should do next, based on information from this and previous fires. My neighbors around me had MANY fire hazards, and the fire chief told me that no violations would be enforced unless someone complained--the only code enforced without complaint regards brush. Supposedly, clearance around roads is enforced for all vegetation, but this hasn't happened in our neighborhood."

5. Steve wrote on October 31, 2007 3:26 PM:
"Can you read Janet? A landscape architect calling for public funds and mandates to fireproof existing yards. She says firefighters, helicopters and additional trucks won't help. Give me a break!! I'm all for one taking precautions around our homes...just not at my expense. I'll pay to fireproof my home and you can pay to do yours or let it burn."

6. Janet wrote on October 31, 2007 4:29 PM:
""Can you read?" does seem like a very personal attack. Perhaps you should reread the article and my comments. I asked how this was self-serving because I don't see how Kay would benefit if houses were retrofitted. She didn't say that more fire fighters and equipment won't help. She said they are not the only answer. I haven't asked taxpayers to pay to fireproof my house--it has all come out of my pocket. I only want more information to prioritize what I do next. Now is the time to come up with ideas. Next, we need to determine what will be most effective. Personal attacks aren't helpful."

7. Kay Stewart wrote on October 31, 2007 6:44 PM:
"Steve, How would you help people protect themselves, and help us all reduce the backlog of fire risk? A lot of the work to be done to reduce yard risks is maintenance, and homeowners and gardeners will do that. Substituting trees that cost too much to care for for smaller trees will give business to nurseries. Reducing risk of burning your house from fences near the house, or modifying decks will support builders. Trimming or removing trees will help tree services. I don't see work here for landscape architects, but I would like to persuade people to make the right choices when they hire me for design, as they do already. Mandates for safe materials and patterns of design would help me serve them better."

8. Steve wrote on November 1, 2007 5:41 PM:
"Kay, my point exactly!"

9. Jim Henson wrote on November 1, 2007 8:16 PM:
"The tag line "Fight the Embers" is the most important statement I have heard in the post fire debate. The call for more Air Power must also include adopting the proven tactic of Direct Attack to PUT OUT THE FLAMES so they can't produce any more blowing embers. Lets explore how they fought these wind driven fires from Fixed Wing. They used Phos-Chek retardant to "conatin" the fire which is standard tactatic's. The embers are blowing up to a mile away than why try to contain the fire PUT IT OUT!!!. CALFIRE is using Direct Attack with Gel in northern california very effectively. The Martin Mars Flying Boat is doing Direct Attack with Gel. But the Feds Aircraft and Incident Commanders still just paint circles around the windy fires. The Fire Services need to be more progresssive and embrace NEW products and tactics."

10. Jim Henson wrote on November 1, 2007 8:16 PM:
"The tag line "Fight the Embers" is the most important statement I have heard in the post fire debate. The call for more Air Power must also include adopting the proven tactic of Direct Attack to PUT OUT THE FLAMES so they can't produce any more blowing embers. Lets explore how they fought these wind driven fires from Fixed Wing. They used Phos-Chek retardant to "conatin" the fire which is standard tactatic's. The embers are blowing up to a mile away than why try to contain the fire PUT IT OUT!!!. CALFIRE is using Direct Attack with Gel in northern california very effectively. The Martin Mars Flying Boat is doing Direct Attack with Gel. But the Feds Aircraft and Incident Commanders still just paint circles around the windy fires. The Fire Services need to be more progresssive and embrace NEW products and tactics."

11. Jim Henson wrote on November 1, 2007 8:16 PM:
"The tag line "Fight the Embers" is the most important statement I have heard in the post fire debate. The call for more Air Power must also include adopting the proven tactic of Direct Attack to PUT OUT THE FLAMES so they can't produce any more blowing embers. Lets explore how they fought these wind driven fires from Fixed Wing. They used Phos-Chek retardant to "conatin" the fire which is standard tactatic's. The embers are blowing up to a mile away than why try to contain the fire PUT IT OUT!!!. CALFIRE is using Direct Attack with Gel in northern california very effectively. The Martin Mars Flying Boat is doing Direct Attack with Gel. But the Feds Aircraft and Incident Commanders still just paint circles around the windy fires. The Fire Services need to be more progresssive and embrace NEW products and tactics."

12. Jim Henson wrote on November 1, 2007 8:16 PM:
"The tag line "Fight the Embers" is the most important statement I have heard in the post fire debate. The call for more Air Power must also include adopting the proven tactic of Direct Attack to PUT OUT THE FLAMES so they can't produce any more blowing embers. Lets explore how they fought these wind driven fires from Fixed Wing. They used Phos-Chek retardant to "conatin" the fire which is standard tactatic's. The embers are blowing up to a mile away than why try to contain the fire PUT IT OUT!!!. CALFIRE is using Direct Attack with Gel in northern california very effectively. The Martin Mars Flying Boat is doing Direct Attack with Gel. But the Feds Aircraft and Incident Commanders still just paint circles around the windy fires. The Fire Services need to be more progresssive and embrace NEW products and tactics."