RCB sends midnight carbon monoxide alert amid heatwave, triggering public anger and debate

Midnight alert triggers confusion and anger

In the late hours of Sunday, 28 June, mobile phones across Poland buzzed with an RCB alert warning that the ongoing heatwave increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The message, sent between 23:00 and 01:00, advised residents using gas water heaters or stoves to ventilate their homes and call for help if feeling unwell. Many recipients, woken from sleep, took to social media to question the timing. One reader wrote to a newspaper: "Is this a wise idea? In my opinion, someone very detached from reality manages these alerts." RCB's official FAQ states that alerts can be sent at any hour, as threats do not wait for morning. However, critics pointed to a September 2025 incident when an alert about drones entering Polish airspace was delayed until morning to avoid panic, raising questions about consistency.

The science of summer carbon monoxide risk

While carbon monoxide is typically associated with winter heating, firefighters stress that the danger persists in hot weather. High temperatures and strong sunlight heat chimney flues, creating a "cushion" of warm air that blocks the upward flow of exhaust gases. This can cause fumes from gas appliances to back up into bathrooms and kitchens. Brigadier Karol Kroć, a fire service spokesperson, explained: "These incidents occur due to fairly high temperatures. Chimneys do not work effectively because of warm air pockets forming in the flues, so ventilation and chimney draft are much weaker." He added that even using a coal- or wood-fired stove for cooking can emit carbon monoxide if ventilation is poor.

Intervention numbers climb

Firefighters across the country have responded to a sharp increase in carbon monoxide calls. On Sunday alone, the Małopolska region recorded 103 incidents by 21:00, with Kraków's municipal unit handling 43 and Oświęcim 30. In Silesia, around 300 interventions were logged over the weekend. Nationwide, daily figures reached approximately 580 at the peak, and one recent day saw nearly 500 calls. For context, in June and July 2025, the State Fire Service intervened 1,499 times for detected carbon monoxide in residential buildings. Officials estimate that 10–20 percent of all CO poisonings occur outside the heating season.

What authorities advise

The RCB alert and fire service statements urge residents to regularly ventilate rooms, especially bathrooms with gas water heaters, and never block ventilation grilles. Installing certified carbon monoxide detectors is strongly recommended. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, and confusion; anyone experiencing them should immediately seek fresh air and call emergency services. The heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 37–39°C on Monday, is expected to persist, keeping the risk elevated.