TOI correspondent from Washington: Nearly two centuries after Tipu Sultan’s Mysore projectiles, which the British converted into Congreve missiles, Francis Scott Key noted “the red glow of the rocket” in the Star Spangled Banner, the American capital is about to learn that fireworks, no matter where they come from, are no fun on a hot summer’s night.As temperatures are forecast to reach record highs across much of the US on July 4, the Trump administration is pushing for its promise that it will be the largest fireworks celebration in history to mark America’s 250th birthday, a celebration so large that it aims to earn a Guinness World Record as well as test the atmosphere’s ability to absorb smoke.Washingtonians are accustomed to spectacular Independence Day displays on the National Mall. However, this year, “fantastic” is being extended to “supersized.” Organizers say more than 860,000 pyrotechnic effects will light up the sky during the 40-minute closing ceremony, about 50 times the number used in typical July celebrations, which typically feature 17,000 to 20,000 shells in less than 20 minutes.Pennsylvania-based fireworks company Pyrotecnico, one of the nation’s largest experts in the business, has ordered more than 50 trucks of fireworks, which are launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, West Potomac Park and eight boats on the Potomac River. Organizers expect about 60 technicians to synchronize the display, which will become the world’s largest fireworks show.However, environmentalists are not impressed. Fireworks are essentially colorful chemical explosions, which release clouds of particulates, sulfur compounds, heavy metals and greenhouse gases into the air. Studies have consistently shown that air pollution increases dramatically during major fireworks displays, sometimes reaching levels considered unhealthy, especially for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory diseases. There’s no telling what effect it has on frightened pets.Meteorologists are predicting that afternoon temperatures will reach 104°F (40°C), with the stagnant air index already causing local pulmonologists to hyperventilate. In Washington, a city built on an actual swamp, high heat traps particles close to the ground, creating a toxic dome of ozone and smog. Adding thousands of chemical explosions to this mix is akin to throwing a gasoline party inside a greenhouse.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which currently operates under leadership that views carbon emissions as a minor nuisance, remains predictably optimistic. Activists have warned that the massive release of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), barium, copper and strontium will lead to “alarming” air toxicity levels within minutes of the grand finale, but no one in the administration is particularly alert about it. In the Trump universe, if the air gets a little smoky, or the thermometer threatens to melt, it’s merely proof that America is producing more energy than anyone else.The irony is especially striking because Trump has made little secret of his disdain for global warming. Since returning to office, his administration has continued to dismantle climate initiatives, encourage expanded fossil-fuel production, roll back emissions regulations and argue that regulations unnecessarily burden economic growth. To supporters, who accuse critics of “peeing on the parade,” the July 4 spectacle represents unassailable American self-confidence. For progressives, it’s like celebrating conservation by setting fire to a national park.The controversy also involves cost. The federal government is spending about $1.6 million on this year’s fireworks display, five times the roughly $270,000 typically spent on Washington’s Independence Day fireworks, according to internal documents first reported by The Washington Post. While this money pales in comparison to what is being spent to beautify Washington DC, the festival has been designated a National Special Security Event, bringing thousands of National Guard troops, federal agents, extensive road closures and elaborate screening procedures to the city of Washington. For many residents, the biggest challenge may not be finding a good viewing spot, but rather avoiding the combination of traffic jams, heat advisories and airport-style security queues before the first rocket leaves the ground.Then comes another interesting global twist. If Washington succeeds in setting a world record for the largest fireworks display ever – under a president who has spent years imposing tariffs on Chinese imports while urging Americans to “buy American” – then it is quite likely that many of those red, white and blue explosions celebrating American independence will have begun their journey in Chinese factories. For a spectacular evening, the loudest sound in Washington may be an unmistakable swell of patriotism, at least partly driven by imports from the country the US now considers its chief strategic rival.