We were talking recently to an Oregon Department of Forestry supervisor — the department has had a couple of busy weeks lately, as you might imagine, and they’re digging in for a long grind over the rest of the summer — and he had choice words for people whose carelessness could start yet another wildfire.

Except, “carelessness” wasn’t exactly the word he used.

He used the word “stupidity.”

Then he thought about it for a moment, wondering if “stupidity” was too strong. Then he decided it wasn’t.

And he was right.

Eastern Oregon fire officials already are worried about the unusually high percentage of human-caused wildfires so far this year. This is particularly troubling because during the last decade, most fires in the Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla national forests have been caused by lightning.

But that’s not the story throughout Oregon, where the numbers suggest humans are responsible for roughly 75% of wildfires on property the ODF protects. So maybe what’s happening this year in Eastern Oregon is just an unfortunate reflection of statewide trends.

It is true that not everyone who starts a fire does so with that intent. But someone tossing a lit cigarette out a car window or setting off a firework in the midst of these tinder-dry conditions everywhere in Eastern Oregon is guilty of carelessness that, frankly, crosses the boundary into stupidity.

In the words of another fire official: “Stop and think. You want to be extra careful. If you’re doing something and you think it could start a fire, it probably will.”

And when you’re thinking about this, don’t just think about yourself. Think about how your careless action could affect the lives of dozens or hundreds or even thousands of others.

“You’re throwing everybody else under the bus,” said the ODF supervisor. “Because if you start a fire, you’ve potentially threatened all your neighbors. … Quit thinking about yourself, what you want to do. Think about the impact you have on everybody else because of your stupidity, if I can be blunt. Yes, stupidity is how I would put it.”

Think about people such as James Bailey Maxwell, the 74-year-old pilot who died last week when his plane crashed while battling a Grant County wildfire. Maxwell, who had been fighting wildfires for more than a half-century, was flying a single-engine air tanker dropping flame retardant in the vicinity of the Falls Fire when his aircraft was reported missing July 25.

Think about area farmers, ranchers and businesspeople who might suffer catastrophic losses in the wake of a fire.

Think about your neighbors and friends, forced to round up pets and other prized possessions in the space of just minutes because a fire is roaring up a nearby ridge.

Think about how the rash of fires around Oregon already is straining firefighting resources throughout the state, with thousands of firefighters starting to come to terms with a long, hot, difficult summer. And let’s be honest: Fighting wildfires isn’t exactly a walk in the park, unless the park is ablaze.

Or just do this: Stop and think. And then stop before you do something careless.

Or stupid.