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Fresno was almost in line with EPA air quality standards this Fourth of July.
Fresno celebrated its cleanest Fourth of July in years, with pollution dropping to just levels barely above EPA standards. The drop – at 36 micrograms per cubic meter – marks a dramatic three-year decline from 163 micrograms in 2023 and 60 micrograms in 2024.
Bakersfield maintained its unwelcome title as the firework capital of the San Joaquin Valley Thursday night, recording pollution levels of 155 micrograms per cubic meter – more than four times the EPA’s recommended daily limit of 35 micrograms per cubic meter for fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
The south valley city topped the valley for the second consecutive year despite improving from 2024’s peak of 280 micrograms per cubic meter. Visalia also showed continued progress, recording 53 micrograms per cubic meter compared to 110 micrograms last year.
In Fresno, familiar patterns emerged with air quality measurements peaking roughly twice as high in areas south of Shaw Avenue compared to northern neighborhoods, according to Purple Air, a local air monitoring network. However, overall conditions in the city were better than in previous years, benefiting from lower-than-average temperatures and a slight wind that helped disperse pollutants more effectively.
The improved conditions marked a stark contrast to last year’s concerns, when officials warned of a “perfect storm” of high temperatures and critically low humidity that could have driven grassfire risks. Those worst-case scenarios failed to materialize in 2024.
Data from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District confirms that both Fresno and Visalia have now recorded two consecutive years of firework pollution decline, a trend officials hope will continue.
The air was cleaner, in terms of fine particulate matter concentrations, this 4th of July than what has been experienced over the past couple of years, however, “some of the hourly concentrations during the late evening hours on July 4, 2025 still reached high levels,” said San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District spokesperson Jaime Holt.
Despite the overall improvements in air quality, fire departments across the valley remained busy responding to firework-related incidents throughout the evening. Emergency crews handled numerous grass fires and other blazes sparked by illegal fireworks, requiring extra response teams during peak celebration hours.
The Fresno Fire Department responded to 190 incidents, of which 122 were fire related, said Joshua Sellers, spokesperson for the Fresno Fire Department.
“We had three additional fire apparatus staffed to help with the increased call volume. Thankfully there were no interruptions to medical aid responses.”
