DC's July 4 Fireworks Blanketed the Entire City in Unhealthy Air

All 26 air quality monitors across DC registered EPA-classified unhealthy levels after Freedom 250's 850,000-firework display. Particulate matter—smoke and ash—spiked to 6.7 times normal concentrations, peaking at 4am as overnight winds spread emissions citywide rather than concentrating them near launch zones. This uniform pollution pattern reflects the show's scale and dispersal dynamics.