Officials with the Valley Air District are urging residents to limit using personal fireworks this Fourth of July holiday due to their impact on air quality and public health.

“We are asking Valley residents to be mindful and considerate of their neighbors and the many sensitive individuals whose health and safety may be impacted by the emissions that come from lighting personal fireworks,” said Jaime Holt, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Chief Communications Officer.

Fireworks emit dangerous levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which includes soot, ash, and heavy metals. These pollutants can lead to health problems, especially for young children, older adults, and people with respiratory illnesses. In addition to impacting air quality, fireworks present significant safety risks and contribute to noise pollution, often resulting in injuries, fires, and distress for pets, wildlife, veterans and community members.

As Fourth of July celebrations and public fireworks displays light up the San Joaquin Valley once again, the Valley Air District encourages families to enjoy professionally organized shows, which offer a safer, more environmentally responsible way to honor Independence Day.

To promote safer and more air-quality friendly celebrations this Fourth of July, several drone light shows will take place throughout the region as part of the District’s Clean Alternatives to Fireworks Pilot Incentive Program. Drone shows serve as a modern, customizable, and zero-emissions alternative to traditional fireworks and feature coordinated fleets of LED-equipped drones that create colorful patterns, shapes, and animations in the night sky.

Each year on the Fourth of July, air monitors across the Valley detect sharp spikes in PM2.5 concentrations due to fireworks, often reaching levels four to five times higher than the federal health-based standard. These spikes typically occur during the evening hours, when personal fireworks are most heavily used. The Valley Air District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) provides access to localized air quality data from an extensive air-monitoring network. Visit myRAAN.com and input any address in the San Joaquin Valley or visit EPA’s AirNow.gov for the most up-to-date air quality information.