Please think twice before striking that match. The purpose may be innocent, but the consequences can be deadly.

The life you save may be your own.

While the warning above might be fitting aimed at those among us who smoke cigarettes, an even larger, more rapidly harmful threat exists — outdoor fires that get out of hand.

This is the time of year that many, many residents — particularly those who live in unincorporated portions of the area — burn fallen leaves.

However, this year, our area has experienced extremely dry weather over the last few weeks resulting in a dangerous, potentially deadly, situation.

Under such conditions, a small pile of leaves burning can quickly spread and turn into a much larger, much more difficult to control grass or forest fire.

To curb that possibility, Adams County has issued a burn ban prohibiting outdoor fires until further notice.

The burn ban comes at a time when many groups plan bon fires around fall festivals and Halloween get-togethers.

Unfortunately, many residents can take the wrong attitude about such a burn ban, thinking to themselves, “They don’t mean me. I’m no novice. I’ve been starting outdoor fires for years and years. I know what I’m doing.”

The burn ban is a good idea, one that could easily save property and lives.

But such a ban is only effective if we all heed it and report anyone who fails to do so.