Out of 16 counties with wildfire data, these are the counties with the highest smoke exposure risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 16 |
| Avg smoke risk (top 100) | 6/100 |
| Total county fires 5yr (top 100) | 578 |
Top 16 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Smoke Risk | County Fires (5yr) | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York | Maine | 13/100 | 60 | 50 |
| 2 | Oxford | Maine | 13/100 | 31 | 29 |
| 3 | Cumberland | Maine | 11/100 | 41 | 45 |
| 4 | Androscoggin | Maine | 11/100 | 27 | 25 |
| 5 | Kennebec | Maine | 7/100 | 41 | 41 |
| 6 | Lincoln | Maine | 7/100 | 24 | 23 |
| 7 | Franklin | Maine | 7/100 | 11 | 20 |
| 8 | Somerset | Maine | 6/100 | 24 | 24 |
| 9 | Sagadahoc | Maine | 6/100 | 10 | 8 |
| 10 | Knox | Maine | 5/100 | 24 | 18 |
| 11 | Waldo | Maine | 5/100 | 23 | 20 |
| 12 | Piscataquis | Maine | 4/100 | 24 | 13 |
| 13 | Penobscot | Maine | 2/100 | 61 | 45 |
| 14 | Aroostook | Maine | 1/100 | 61 | 41 |
| 15 | Washington | Maine | 1/100 | 61 | 36 |
| 16 | Hancock | Maine | 1/100 | 55 | 47 |
Methodology
County rankings for Maine 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.