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New York City is distributing free KN95 masks at public library branches, because of wildfire smoke risk
https://www.nyc.gov/site/em/about/press-releases/20260715_pr-NYCEM-Smoke-From-Canadian-Wildfires-May-Affect-NYC-Air-Quality.pageSMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILDFIRES MAY AFFECT NEW YORK CITY AIR QUALITY BEGINNING WEDNESDAY AS HEAT WAVE CONTINUES
New Yorkers Urged to Prepare for Potential Air Quality Impacts Amid Heat Emergency
NEW YORK — New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today issued an advisory alerting New Yorkers to the possibility of deteriorating air quality due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from significant, still-spreading wildfires in western Ontario, Canada. Visible smoke aloft is expected over New York City beginning Wednesday. The smoke plume is currently moving slowly across New York State, and the timing and extent of any ground-level impacts in the city remain uncertain. There may be temporary spikes in air quality levels, but these are currently expected to be at levels below air quality health advisory triggers. NYC Emergency Management will share updates as they become available.
This smoke event coincides with an ongoing heat wave. A Heat Advisory is in effect through Wednesday, which is forecast to be the hottest day, with temperatures near 100°F and a heat index of up to 102–103°F. An Air Quality Health Advisory for ozone is already in effect today, Tuesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 105 — “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” Wildfire smoke would add fine particulate pollution on top of existing ozone levels.
“Every New Yorker has a different risk profile, and this week you need to know yours. If you're sensitive to air quality, don't remain in a space without air conditioning or filtration. And if you're in a population vulnerable to heat, older adults, young children, people with chronic conditions, take the heat seriously too. In both cases, you should get to a cool indoor space, and if you don't have one at home, a cooling center is open near you,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “We can't predict exactly where the smoke will go, but we're not waiting to find out. Our heat emergency plan is already activated, we have resources in place to track and respond to air quality, and we'll alert New Yorkers the moment conditions change. Sign up for Notify NYC and check on your neighbors.”
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FREE MASKS AVAILABLE AT DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS
To protect the health of New Yorkers, especially those at greatest risk, free KN95 masks are available at public library branches across the five boroughs. These include Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library locations, as well as the following New York Public Library branches: St. George Library Center in Staten Island, the Bronx Library Center in the Bronx, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (the main branch) in Manhattan. Emergency Management is working to expand availability at additional distribution sites and will announce further locations if air quality worsens.
-snip-
New Yorkers Urged to Prepare for Potential Air Quality Impacts Amid Heat Emergency
NEW YORK — New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) today issued an advisory alerting New Yorkers to the possibility of deteriorating air quality due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from significant, still-spreading wildfires in western Ontario, Canada. Visible smoke aloft is expected over New York City beginning Wednesday. The smoke plume is currently moving slowly across New York State, and the timing and extent of any ground-level impacts in the city remain uncertain. There may be temporary spikes in air quality levels, but these are currently expected to be at levels below air quality health advisory triggers. NYC Emergency Management will share updates as they become available.
This smoke event coincides with an ongoing heat wave. A Heat Advisory is in effect through Wednesday, which is forecast to be the hottest day, with temperatures near 100°F and a heat index of up to 102–103°F. An Air Quality Health Advisory for ozone is already in effect today, Tuesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 105 — “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” Wildfire smoke would add fine particulate pollution on top of existing ozone levels.
“Every New Yorker has a different risk profile, and this week you need to know yours. If you're sensitive to air quality, don't remain in a space without air conditioning or filtration. And if you're in a population vulnerable to heat, older adults, young children, people with chronic conditions, take the heat seriously too. In both cases, you should get to a cool indoor space, and if you don't have one at home, a cooling center is open near you,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell. “We can't predict exactly where the smoke will go, but we're not waiting to find out. Our heat emergency plan is already activated, we have resources in place to track and respond to air quality, and we'll alert New Yorkers the moment conditions change. Sign up for Notify NYC and check on your neighbors.”
-snip-
FREE MASKS AVAILABLE AT DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS
To protect the health of New Yorkers, especially those at greatest risk, free KN95 masks are available at public library branches across the five boroughs. These include Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library locations, as well as the following New York Public Library branches: St. George Library Center in Staten Island, the Bronx Library Center in the Bronx, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (the main branch) in Manhattan. Emergency Management is working to expand availability at additional distribution sites and will announce further locations if air quality worsens.
-snip-