Out of 14 counties with wildfire data, these are the counties with the highest smoke exposure risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 14 |
| Avg smoke risk (top 100) | 15/100 |
| Total county fires 5yr (top 100) | 1,162 |
Top 14 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Smoke Risk | County Fires (5yr) | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Essex | Massachusetts | 23/100 | 339 | 59 |
| 2 | Suffolk | Massachusetts | 22/100 | 61 | 50 |
| 3 | Middlesex | Massachusetts | 19/100 | 76 | 105 |
| 4 | Plymouth | Massachusetts | 17/100 | 152 | 64 |
| 5 | Norfolk | Massachusetts | 17/100 | 61 | 55 |
| 6 | Bristol | Massachusetts | 17/100 | 61 | 40 |
| 7 | Worcester | Massachusetts | 14/100 | 76 | 105 |
| 8 | Hampden | Massachusetts | 14/100 | 16 | 54 |
| 9 | Barnstable | Massachusetts | 13/100 | 152 | 54 |
| 10 | Dukes | Massachusetts | 13/100 | 21 | 7 |
| 11 | Hampshire | Massachusetts | 13/100 | 16 | 29 |
| 12 | Berkshire | Massachusetts | 11/100 | 76 | 39 |
| 13 | Franklin | Massachusetts | 10/100 | 51 | 30 |
| 14 | Nantucket | Massachusetts | 8/100 | 4 | 4 |
Methodology
County rankings for Massachusetts 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.