Out of 8 counties with wildfire data, these are the counties with the highest smoke exposure risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 8 |
| Avg smoke risk (top 100) | 16/100 |
| Total county fires 5yr (top 100) | 5 |
Top 8 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Smoke Risk | County Fires (5yr) | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford | Connecticut | 22/100 | 1 | 103 |
| 2 | New Haven | Connecticut | 18/100 | 0 | 80 |
| 3 | New London | Connecticut | 17/100 | 0 | 34 |
| 4 | Tolland | Connecticut | 16/100 | 1 | 22 |
| 5 | Windham | Connecticut | 16/100 | 1 | 38 |
| 6 | Middlesex | Connecticut | 16/100 | 1 | 37 |
| 7 | Litchfield | Connecticut | 15/100 | 1 | 54 |
| 8 | Fairfield | Connecticut | 11/100 | 0 | 65 |
Methodology
County rankings for Connecticut based on average smoke risk score and fire frequency.
Data sources: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), EPA AirNow. Last updated: 2026-06-04.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is wildfire smoke risk calculated?
Smoke risk scores (0-100) combine multiple factors: proximity to recent wildfires, county fire frequency over the past 5 years, historical smoke days, and geographic position relative to typical fire corridors. Higher scores indicate greater smoke exposure risk during fire season.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Use a HEPA air purifier indoors, wear N95 or KN95 masks outdoors during smoke events, seal windows and doors, and monitor AirNow.gov for real-time air quality. Create a clean room in your home with the purifier running and windows sealed.