Editorial: Cool heads must prevail during this heat wave

This weekend the region is hosting Hoopfest in downtown Spokane and the Ironman triathlon in and around Coeur d’Alene, so the approaching heat wave could not be more unwelcome.

With the woods almost as hot and dry as the pavement, everyone should take precautions; for themselves, their families, their property and the lives of firefighters who are facing what may be the longest and hottest of summers.

Mother Nature didn’t bother with reservations for the weekend, so residents and visitors must deal with the intrusion as best they can. Triple-digit temperatures are forecast, with a possible high Sunday of 103 degrees. The heat may stick around for a week or longer.

The immediate concern lies with the estimated 250,000 hot bodies expected to jam Hoopfest on Saturday, or participate in the grueling triathlon. We’ve had high temperatures before for these events, but nothing like this. A 103-degree high Sunday would be 23 degrees above normal.

Ideally, we could adopt the routines of the Southwest, and confine activities to the morning and evening hours. The siesta is a natural response to stressful heat.

This won’t be possible for basketball players, triathletes and fans, but all should still avoid the sun whenever possible. Triathletes should put safety above personal bests. Basketball players should drink plenty of water and seek shade between games.

Take a stroll through the Rotary Fountain at Riverfront Park to cool down, hydrate regularly and apply plenty of sunscreen.

Public health officials warn that heatstroke and heat exhaustion are not trifles. If you see someone who seems woozy or off-kilter, usher them to shade or air conditioning, then find medical help. Health care providers are available at Hoopfest. If you don’t feel well, don’t play. There’s always next year.

Even without this blast of heat, 2015 is shaping up to be a challenging summer. A parched June was preceded by a relatively warm spring and a moderate winter. Mountain snowpack hasn’t been this sparse in more than 30 years, and rivers are at record low flows.

A burn ban on land managed by the state Department of Natural Resources went into effect June 17 and will last through September. Many wildfires have already flared throughout the state, including a couple of notable local blazes: one in west Spokane that skirted the perimeter of Greenwood Memorial Cemetery and Indian Canyon Golf Course, and another between Spokane and Cheney that came extremely close to some houses.

If you will be camping, confine fires in approved pits. The region has become a tinder box that a single spark can ignite into a catastrophe.

This is doubly important as the Fourth of July holiday approaches. Please douse any plans to set off fireworks. In this environment, they’re dangerous. Don’t jeopardize the homes and lives of others.

The weather will be unpleasant for the foreseeable future, but if cool heads prevail, we’ll survive just fine.