Out of 15 counties with wildfire data, these are the counties with the highest smoke exposure risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 15 |
| Avg smoke risk (top 100) | 53/100 |
| Total county fires 5yr (top 100) | 1,503 |
Top 15 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Smoke Risk | County Fires (5yr) | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gila | Arizona | 77/100 | 172 | 15 |
| 2 | Navajo | Arizona | 76/100 | 63 | 21 |
| 3 | Yavapai | Arizona | 74/100 | 126 | 34 |
| 4 | Pima | Arizona | 69/100 | 78 | 72 |
| 5 | Coconino | Arizona | 64/100 | 167 | 36 |
| 6 | Maricopa | Arizona | 58/100 | 124 | 197 |
| 7 | Mohave | Arizona | 55/100 | 113 | 28 |
| 8 | Santa Cruz | Arizona | 52/100 | 53 | 8 |
| 9 | Cochise | Arizona | 51/100 | 140 | 29 |
| 10 | Pinal | Arizona | 51/100 | 124 | 48 |
| 11 | Apache | Arizona | 49/100 | 167 | 33 |
| 12 | Graham | Arizona | 39/100 | 80 | 8 |
| 13 | Greenlee | Arizona | 32/100 | 35 | 3 |
| 14 | La Paz | Arizona | 27/100 | 35 | 9 |
| 15 | Yuma | Arizona | 23/100 | 26 | 12 |
Methodology
County rankings for Arizona 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.