Canadian wildfire smoke impacting US July Fourth celebrations.

Fireworks Displays Canceled and Resumed Amidst Wildfires

As hundreds of wildfires continue to burn throughout Canada and choke out large swaths of the United States, many cities have changed or even canceled their planned Fourth of July fireworks displays over air quality concerns and fears of worsening pollution.

What You Need to Know

Here’s what you need to know about canceled displays and who is most at risk for smoke exposure this Independence Day:

• Where are displays being canceled?

In Salt Lake City, officials opted to cancel its major annual Independence Day fireworks show and replace it for the first time ever with a synchronized drone show.

City officials described the change as a “proactive effort” to alleviate air quality concerns and reduce high wildfire risk in the area, which has been exacerbated by drought and heat.

“As temperatures rise and fire danger increases, we must be conscientious of both our air quality and the potential for wildfires,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement. “The summer holiday shows are a mainstay for Salt Lakers, and we’re excited about adapting to new technology which will provide a safe alternative for our residents and visitors.”

In New Mexico, U.S. Forest Service officials encouraged cities to mark the occasion using silly string, an outdoor movie, or other forms of entertainment instead. In Missouri, many cities also canceled their annual Independence Day fireworks displays, citing extreme heat and drought conditions.

And fireworks were postponed in Connecticut due to weather conditions and poor air quality, though some municipalities opted to push their displays to the following weekend.

Meanwhile, many cities in California have announced the resumption of fireworks displays this year in contrast with the rest of the country — a change that comes as improved forestry efforts, an infusion of federal and state funds, and wetter weather conditions have afforded it a respite from intense summer wildfires for the first time in years.

Cities in Los Angeles County, San Francisco, and South Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada border, all announced the return of fireworks displays to mark the Independence Day holiday.

Canada Day

Over the weekend, many Canadian cities also scrapped their own annual fireworks displays for the July 1 holiday of Canada Day, citing fears of worsening smoke pollution or sparking new wildfires. Roughly half of the wildfires in Canada are caused by weather, such as lighting storms, but the other half are believed to be caused by human activity — which remains a major concern as the country battles its worst wildfire season on record.

Major fireworks displays were scrapped in Ontario, a heavily forested province that reported three times as many wildfires this season compared to previous years. And major cities such as Toronto and Montreal also canceled their fireworks displays, opting to instead mark the Canada Day festivities with live music, games, and other entertainment.

Why it’s Dangerous

Like wildfires, smoke from fireworks can release gasses and particulate matter into the air, which can be harmful when inhaled. This particulate matter can also make its way into the bloodstream, causing inflammation and affecting the immune system.

This can be especially dangerous for areas that have already experienced high levels of pollution — including much of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, which have seen air conditions reach “unhealthy” or “very unhealthy” levels twice this summer due to smoke drifting south from the Canadian wildfires.

Forecasters have warned the risk of wildfire smoke pollution could continue throughout much of the summer, putting millions of people at risk for exposure to toxic pollutants and particulate matter.

Ahead of this year’s holiday, the Environmental Protection Agency warned immunocompromised residents and other vulnerable groups to restrict their exposure to fireworks pollution, including elderly people and children, pregnant women, and anyone with heart disease or lung conditions such as asthma.

These groups should instead watch fireworks from upwind or as far away as possible, the EPA told the Washington Examiner in a statement, adding that this warning is especially important in parts of the U.S. where air quality is already poor from wildfire pollution.

Particulate matter accounts for roughly 80% of smoke from wildfires. And fireworks displays can cause air to further deteriorate: Research found that Independence Day fireworks increase fine particulate matter in the air by 42% and that the particulates linger for roughly 24 hours after a display.

Importantly, those living in the U.S. many miles away from the wildfires may remain at risk, depending on the concentration of particulate matter.

“Unfortunately, because smoke can travel thousands of miles, you don’t have to be close to the fires [to be adversely affected] by wildfire smoke,” Dr. Mary Prunicki, the director of air pollution and health research at Stanford University’s Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, told the Washington Examiner in an interview.

“Smoke can blow thousands of miles. So it really doesn’t matter if you’re thousands of miles away, if that particulate matter is getting to you — depending on its concentration at that point — you can definitely be impacted,” she said.

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