How difficult is too difficult?

Hello again, just here to talk about some thoughts I've had about my novel recently.

I'm about to start my writing session, and I'm wondering, "How hard is too hard?" I'm putting my protagonist, Danthien, through a lot. In addition to mental/emotional stresses, fire has started raining from the sky, setting everything on fire. He's trying to get to Li, and has had to avoid raining fire, consider knocking someone out, rescue someone else from a burning building, navigate a burning corn field, and get over a 10 foot wall when the fire is closing in and the tree he normally uses is on fire.

Now that he's over the wall, should Li be right there? I mean, he's gone through plenty of trouble, sure... but would it be too much to send him after her through another burning corn field, into an enclosure full of burning buildings, hostile mages, and still raining fire? To find her in an unfamiliar place when he has no idea where the heck she is?

I may be biased, but I think isn't. I mean, it's the beginning of the novel and the reader knows he's not gonna die yet. So why not put him in totally impossible circumstances?

I just wonder how he feels about it... poor Dan. Being a character in my novel is tough.

Anyway, just wanted to talk about this real quick. Now I'm off to fufill my wordcount!