Opinion: Oops. Changed our minds. Save us after all!

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After at first refusing to leave their homes during the evacuation of Gold Canyon, five residents are now asking to be rescued. Right now that’s not even a possibility, but fire crews are looking for ways -- or a change in conditions -- that might make rescue possible.

Situations like this crop up in many fires. People feel that they can save their homes; after all, no one will try as hard as they will to keep the flames at bay. But what should this mean in a mandatory evacuation? Should people be allowed to stay? And if so, should fire crews try to bail them out when things get tougher than these stalwart -- or simply stubborn -- folk anticipated?

--Karin Klein