Washington Plans 850,000 Fireworks and Jet Flyovers for 250th Anniversary as Heat Threatens Air Quality
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3
Washington Plans 850,000 Fireworks and Jet Flyovers for 250th Anniversary as Heat Threatens Air Quality
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3
Summary
More than 850,000 fireworks are set to launch from 10 Washington sites on July 4 in a 40-minute bid to set a world record for America’s 250th anniversary.
Fighter jets and bombers will add all-day flyovers above the National Mall, turning the celebration into a citywide spectacle stretching from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to barges on the Potomac.
100-degree heat is expected to worsen the event’s biggest downside: thick smoke and poor air quality that could linger over the city for hours.
Residents, pet owners and the National Zoo are already preparing for the fallout, with some dogs being sedated, elephants given indoor refuge and many Washingtonians planning to leave town.
Earlier internal National Park Service projections warned the display could push pollution to very unhealthy levels around the Mall, prompting advice to stay indoors or wear N95 masks.