The sweltering temperatures are simply a nuisance to most of us. A thick, humid sea we wade through in short trips from air-conditioned houses to air-conditioned cars.

But ask any firefighter and he’ll tell how dangerous such long stretches of dry weather are. Drought conditions mean each twig, leaf and piece of trash can potentially spark a fire that can cost millions of dollars in property and claim lives.

Some of the fires are unavoidable, sparked by lightning. Others are simply caused by careless burning.

Whether it is cigarette tossed from a passing car or property owners burning off land each can end in disaster.

For weeks wildfires have ravaged thousands of acres across the western United States.

Recently the fires have ignited a little closer to home. And the potential for destruction is ever-present.

This weekend two people died because of fires that got out of hand. One man, a firefighter from Webster County, died from burns he received while fighting a wildfire last month.

Another man was killed in Franklin County after a fire he started got out of control.

All of them — from the firefighters to property owners — probably thought, &uot;It won’t happen to me.&uot;

But in reality, fires can get out of control anywhere and anytime.

Adams County is currently under a burn ban. Concordia Parish has no such ban.

We urge people on both sides of the river not to start fires — for any reason — until the drought conditions are over.

The life you save may be your own or someone you love.