Summer in NYC usually means keeping one eye on the weather forecast—but lately, it’s not just the temperature New Yorkers have to worry about.
Between dangerous heat and smoke drifting south from Canada’s wildfires, even a quick walk to grab coffee can come with an air quality warning.
As hazy skies settle over the five boroughs, city officials are urging New Yorkers to take precautions, handing out free KN95 masks across the city and extending cooling center hours to help residents stay safe through the latest round of unhealthy air.
Where to Get Free KN95 Masks Across NYC
The city is expanding its free KN95 mask distribution to help residents stay protected—especially those most vulnerable to smoke exposure. A well-fitting KN95 or N95 mask can help reduce the amount of harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5) you breathe in when air quality reaches unhealthy levels.
You can pick up free KN95 masks at hundreds of locations across the city, including:
- 📚 More than 200 public libraries across all five boroughs
- 🚔 Every NYPD precinct
- 🚒 Nine FDNY firehouses
- 🚉 Select transit hubs, including:
- Penn Station
- Grand Central Terminal
- Atlantic Ave–Barclays Center
- Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer
NYC Emergency Management has also highlighted these library locations for mask pickup:
- Brooklyn Public Library branches
- Queens Public Library branches
- Bronx Library Center
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (Manhattan)
- St. George Library Center (Staten Island)
Cooling Centers Are Staying Open—And Officials Say They May Be Safer Than Staying Home
With dangerous heat arriving alongside wildfire smoke, city officials are reminding New Yorkers that heat remains the greater immediate health risk.
If your home doesn’t have air conditioning—or it’s becoming too hot indoors—don’t stay in a hot apartment just to avoid the smoke. Instead, head to one of the city’s hundreds of free cooling centers, which have been kept open as part of NYC’s extended Heat Emergency Plan.
Cooling centers provide:
- ❄️ Air-conditioned indoor spaces
- 🌬️ Protection from both extreme heat and wildfire smoke
- 🐶 Select pet-friendly and fully accessible locations
You can find the nearest cooling center by:
- Calling 311
- Using the city’s online Cooling Center Finder
How to Protect Yourself While Air Quality Is Poor
Health officials recommend limiting your exposure to smoke until conditions improve—especially if you have asthma, heart disease, or another respiratory condition.
Here’s what to do while the advisory remains in effect:
- Limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.
- Keep windows and doors closed when possible.
- Set your air conditioner or HVAC system to recirculate indoor air rather than bringing air in from outside.
- If you need to be outdoors, wear a well-fitting KN95 or N95 mask.
- Use a HEPA air purifier indoors if one is available.
- Drink plenty of water and stay in cool, air-conditioned spaces.
- Check on older neighbors, friends, and relatives, particularly those living alone.
Children, older adults, pregnant people, outdoor workers, and anyone with heart or lung conditions should take extra precautions until air quality improves.
Why Smoke Is So Bad Right Now
The smoky skies are being caused by large, active wildfires burning in western Ontario, Canada, with winds carrying fine smoke particles hundreds of miles into the Northeast.
State forecasters expect New York City’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to reach the “Unhealthy” category, meaning everyone—not just sensitive groups—can experience health effects. Officials say this could become the city’s most significant wildfire smoke event since 2023, though current forecasts do not suggest conditions will reach the record-breaking levels seen during that historic haze event.
Stay safe, NYC ❤️