Air Quality & Wildfire News — July 4, 2026

It's the Fourth of July, and today's news is dominated by the holiday itself: fireworks smoke is expected to push air quality into unhealthy territory in several regions tonight, while Colorado contends with one of the largest wildfires in its history.

Fireworks smoke is a real, if short-lived, pollution event

Air pollution rises by an average of 42% on the Fourth of July, according to a 2015 study cited in a Fox News report. The American Lung Association says nearly 300 million pounds of fireworks go up in the U.S. each year, releasing fine particles along with gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, plus metals such as aluminum, manganese and cadmium.

The association notes that children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with lung or heart conditions are the most vulnerable. Watching displays from a distance and upwind of the smoke is an easy way to enjoy the show with less exposure.

Southern California braces for hazardous holiday air

Hazardous air pollution is expected across central and southern Los Angeles County, northern Orange County, and Riverside and San Bernardino counties from 5 p.m. Saturday through 3 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reports, citing the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Unhealthy air is also expected in northern Los Angeles County and southern Orange County.

The district says July 4 and 5 are traditionally two of the worst air-quality days of the year in the region, with pollution building from dusk and lingering through Sunday afternoon. Keeping windows closed overnight is a sensible move if you're in the advisory area.

Colorado's Aspen Acres fire becomes eighth-largest in state history

The Aspen Acres fire in Pueblo County grew to 73,377 acres — about 115 square miles — by Friday afternoon with no containment, making it the eighth-largest wildfire in Colorado history, the Denver Post reports. The fire made runs overnight into the community of Colorado City, forcing middle-of-the-night evacuations.

More than 3,800 addresses remain under mandatory evacuation in Pueblo and Custer counties, and the fire was burning within 200 yards of the Bishop's Castle tourist attraction. Wildfires near Ouray, Dolores and Leadville also grew on Friday.

Cincinnati under an air quality alert through Sunday

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an air quality alert for all of Greater Cincinnati through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, with ozone levels that may approach or exceed unhealthy standards, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The alert comes alongside a hot, stormy holiday forecast, with a high near 94 that could feel like 101 with humidity.

Albuquerque: fireworks plus drought is a bad combination

The Fourth of July is the peak day of the year for human-caused wildfires, a National Weather Service forecaster told the Albuquerque Journal, and the holiday accounts for nearly twice as many wildfires and outside fires as the rest of the summer, according to the National Fire Protection Association. With severe drought and extreme heat across New Mexico, officials say even legal fireworks can turn dangerous fast.

Albuquerque and Bernalillo County prohibit aerial fireworks, but New Mexico has no statewide ban, and the city's fire chief says illegal fireworks bought in neighboring counties remain a major problem.

Sources

Fourth of July fireworks linked to air pollution, health risks, experts say — Fox News
July Fourth fireworks and Southern California air quality: What to know — Los Angeles Times
Aspen Acres fire challenges firefighters as flames consume 28 square miles in hours — The Denver Post
What's the July 4 weather for Cincinnati? Storms, heat expected — Cincinnati Enquirer
Illegal fireworks and drought conditions raise fire risks in Albuquerque this Fourth of July — Albuquerque Journal

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.