Cover Letter

[LETTERHEAD]

[DATE]

[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Dear [NAME]

The United States Forest Service and Michigan State University (MSU) are studying residents’ perceptions of fire management in [CITY/COUNTY]. You have been randomly selected as a homeowner for a community-wide survey about wildfire protection in your community. We are interested in learning about your opinions on this topic. This survey is part of a research project designed to help local officials understand the public’s views on wildland fire management so they can improve fire management programs. This research is funded by the Joint Fire Science Program and the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Your views are important whether or not you know a great deal about wildfire management. For the results of our study to truly represent the thinking of the people in your community, it is important that each questionnaire be completed and returned.

Please have any adult who lives in your household complete the survey. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You indicate your voluntary agreement to participate by completing and returning this survey; however, you are under no obligation to participate in this survey..

If you have any questions about this project, please call Dr. Christine Vogt, Associate Professor at MSU: (517) 432-0318 or contact her at vogtc@msu.edu. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your rights as a study participant, or are dissatisfied at any time with any aspect of this study, you may contact Peter Vasilenko, Ph. D., Director of the Human Research Protection Programs (HRPP) at Michigan State University: (517) 355-2180, fax: (517) 432-4503, email: irb@msu.edu, or regular mail: 202 Olds Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation!

Sincerely,

Christine A. Vogt, PhD

Michigan State University

vogtc@msu.edu

Enclosures: survey, postage paid envelope