Out of 10 counties with wildfire data, these are the counties with the highest smoke exposure risk.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Counties ranked | 10 |
| Avg smoke risk (top 100) | 12/100 |
| Total county fires 5yr (top 100) | 78 |
Top 10 Counties
| Rank | County | State | Smoke Risk | County Fires (5yr) | ZIP Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carroll | New Hampshire | 16/100 | 12 | 32 |
| 2 | Hillsborough | New Hampshire | 14/100 | 8 | 41 |
| 3 | Grafton | New Hampshire | 14/100 | 8 | 39 |
| 4 | Rockingham | New Hampshire | 14/100 | 6 | 41 |
| 5 | Coos | New Hampshire | 14/100 | 4 | 16 |
| 6 | Merrimack | New Hampshire | 12/100 | 10 | 32 |
| 7 | Strafford | New Hampshire | 12/100 | 6 | 20 |
| 8 | Belknap | New Hampshire | 11/100 | 8 | 20 |
| 9 | Sullivan | New Hampshire | 9/100 | 8 | 13 |
| 10 | Cheshire | New Hampshire | 8/100 | 8 | 28 |
Methodology
County rankings for New Hampshire 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.