Monroe County provides free face masks amid worsening air quality from Canadian wildfires

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Updated ·2 min read

Monroe County will be giving away free face masks as smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires continue to impact air quality throughout the Rochester region.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday. The advisory comes as air quality levels in the Rochester region are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index, or AQI, value of 105 to 125 for fine particulates.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, the AQI was 154 in Rochester, which is considered unhealthy, according to Airnow.gov. The AQI is a standardized scale developed to simplify the understanding of different pollutants' effects on human health. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern.

MORE: Air quality alert issued for Rochester region. What you should know

Air quality in Rochester NY worsens. Where to get free face masks

KN95 and N95 masks, available until supplies run out, will be offered at the following libraries and Department of Motor Vehicle offices within Monroe County:

  • Henrietta DMV - 1225 Jefferson Road, Suite A26 (Frontier Commons), Henrietta

  • Irondequoit DMV - 545 Tutus Ave., (Titus Mall), Irondequoit

  • Rochester Downtown DMV - 200 E. Main St., Ste. 101, Rochester

  • Greece DMV - The Mall at Greece Ridge (near entrance 2), 271 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Greece

  • Arnett Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 310 Arnett Blvd,, Rochester

  • Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County - 115 South Ave., Rochester

  • Brighton Memorial Library - 2300 Elmwood Ave., Brighton

  • Charlotte Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 3557 Lake Ave., Rochester

  • Chili Public Library -3237 Chili Ave., Chili

  • East Rochester Public Library - 317 Main St., East Rochester

  • Frederick Douglass Community Library, Rochester Public Library - 971 South Ave., Rochester

  • Gates Public Library - 902 Elmgrove Road, Gates

  • Lincoln Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 851 Joseph Ave., Rochester

  • Lyell Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 956 Lyell Ave., Rochester

  • Maplewood Community Library, Rochester Public Library - 1111 Dewey Ave., Rochester

  • Mendon Public Library - 22 N. Main St., Honeoye Falls

  • Monroe Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 809 Monroe Ave., Rochester

  • Newman Riga Library, 1 S. Main St., Churchville

  • Phillis Wheatley Community Library, Rochester Public Library - 33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way, Rochester

  • Rush Public Library - 5977 East Henrietta Road, Rush

  • Sully Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 530 Webster Ave., Rochester

  • Winton Branch of the Rochester Public Library - 611 N. Winton Road, Rochester

“Smoke from Canadian wildfires is affecting our area again today and it’s likely this will continue to happen intermittently in coming weeks,” County Executive Adam Bello said in a news release. “Fine particulate matter in the smoke can cause negative health impacts for some residents, which is why I’m making high-quality masks available to the public. I encourage residents who are sensitive to this smoke to take precautions and limit their exposure to outdoor air when necessary.”

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Air quality forecast worsens in Rochester NY. Free masks available