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  • Several ladies gather at the JI Stipe recreation center to enjoy to the cooling station on Wednesday. Photo Editor Kevin Harvison

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August 3, 2012

The heat is on in McAlester.

By Jeanne LeFlore Staff Writer

McALESTER — Higher temperatures and lower humidity — equals fire danger and heat related illness danger according to local experts.

“Our humidity has been low this summer, and that increases the danger of wildfires said Trent Myers who serves as the director of Pittsburg County Emergency Management and as Tannehill Fire Chief.

“It’s been around 12 percent, the lowest in five years,” Myers said.

Along with fire danger, heat related illnesses can also be caused from the extreme heat.

What is extreme heat?

Conditions of extreme heat are defined as summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter and/or more humid than average for location at that time of year.

 Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Extremely dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms and low visibility. Droughts occur when a long period passes without substantial rainfall. A heat wave combined with a drought is a very dangerous situation.

One way to help beat the heat and lower your electric bills is to spend the day at a cooling station.

 The City of McAlester has set up a cooling station at the JI Stipe center. The station is open to the public from Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and closed on Saturdays.

Because heat-related deaths are preventable, its important to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death.

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