Wednesday, January 28, 2026
20 check-insTonight's Question
"If your gas heat suddenly stopped working during a polar vortex, what alternative methods could you safely use to heat a room in an emergency – without risking carbon monoxide poisoning?"
Tonight's Net Topic: "Fire & Ice"
The 2019 Michigan Polar Vortex & Ray Compressor Station Fire
During the brutal late-January 2019 cold snap known as the "polar vortex," temperatures plunged to -15°F with wind chills near -40°F across Southeast Michigan. Then, on January 30th, a fire broke out at Consumers Energy's Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station in Armada Township, Macomb County – forcing a critical shutdown of gas flow from that facility.
In the middle of life-threatening cold, Consumers Energy and Governor Whitmer sent emergency alerts asking all 1.8 million Lower Peninsula customers to immediately lower thermostats to 65°F or less to prevent a system-wide gas shortage. This was unprecedented – Michigan had never faced a simultaneous extreme cold event AND major energy infrastructure failure.
What Happened at Ray Station
The Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station is a critical piece of Michigan's natural gas infrastructure, helping move gas from storage fields to customers across the Lower Peninsula. When fire broke out during the coldest weather in decades, system operators had to:
- Re-route gas through alternative pipelines
- Activate emergency peaking storage fields
- Purchase emergency gas supplies at premium prices
- Coordinate massive public communication efforts
First-Hand Reports from the Polar Vortex
- Armada Township: Residents watched flames and smoke billow from the compressor station while temperatures dropped below zero
- Metro Detroit: Schools closed for multiple days as temperatures made it dangerous to wait at bus stops
- Emergency rooms: Hospitals saw spikes in frostbite and hypothermia cases
- Water main breaks: Frozen and burst pipes across the region added to infrastructure strain
- Homeless shelters: Facilities operated beyond capacity as warming centers opened across counties
- USPS suspended delivery: For the first time in memory, mail delivery was halted due to dangerous cold
CO Poisoning Danger
When people lose heat, they often turn to dangerous alternatives. During extreme cold events, fire departments and hospitals see dramatic increases in carbon monoxide poisoning cases from:
- Running generators indoors or in attached garages
- Using propane heaters designed for outdoor use
- Operating gas stoves/ovens for heating
- Charcoal grills or camp stoves used indoors
- Running cars in closed garages to warm up
Safer Emergency Heating Options
- Isolate to one room: Close off unused rooms and gather family in one space
- Indoor-rated propane heaters: Use ONLY heaters rated for indoor use with proper ventilation
- Electric space heaters: If you have power, these are the safest option
- Layer up: Multiple light layers trap heat better than one heavy layer
- Hot water bottles: Old-fashioned but effective for warming beds
- Warming centers: Know where your local warming centers are located
Net Control Discussion Points:
- How would ARPSC coordinate with warming centers if neighborhoods lost gas service?
- What health & welfare traffic might we handle for people with electric space heaters straining local circuits?
- How do we monitor and report CO poisoning risks when people improvise heating?
- What if a major substation fails under high electrical load from everyone switching to space heaters?
Sources: Detroit Free Press | WXYZ Detroit | FOX 2 Detroit | Detroit News
Announcements
🚨 Warren Warming Center Support – January 23–26!
Warren Emergency Management has requested ARPSC assistance to help staff a warming center at Owen Jax Recreation Center in Warren from Friday, January 23rd through Monday, January 26th, 2026. Shifts run 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM each day.
Learn More & Sign Up☕ ARPSC Breakfast Meetup – February 8th!
Join us for breakfast at Main Street Grill in New Haven on Sunday, February 8th at 8:30 AM. Everyone is welcome – members, prospective members, and anyone curious about ARPSC. No RSVP needed!
Event Details💚 Support ARPSC – Multiple Ways to Give
Please consider supporting Macomb County ARPSC! We have several easy ways to donate, including the Kroger Community Rewards program – you can support us just by shopping at Kroger at no extra cost to you! Check out all the ways you can help.
View Donation OptionsCheck-In List
| # | Call Sign | Name | City | Member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N8VDZ | Mike | Warren | Member |
| 2 | KE8WUO | John | Warren | Member |
| 3 | W8VD | Wally | New Baltimore | Member |
| 4 | KA8UHG | Steve | Saint Clair Shores | Member |
| 5 | W8FU | Sean | Warren | Member |
| 6 | N8KNS | Don | Sterling Heights | Member |
| 7 | KE4ZYQ | Joe | Clinton Township | Member |
| 8 | N8WCB | David | Sterling Heights | Member |
| 9 | N8HAP | Joe | New Baltimore | Member |
| 10 | 22/KE8LAX | Dean | New Haven | — |
| 11 | KE8YNU | Dave | New Haven | Member |
| 12 | 10/N8WRO | Tim | Richmond | — |
| 13 | 14/KC8KJO | Tom | Memphis | — |
| 14 | 21/AD8OD | John | Troy | — |
| 15 | W8VOX | Jon | Macomb | Member |
| 16 | KF8ETQ | Darren | Fraser | Member |
| 17 | KE8FCR | Michael | Casco | — |
| 18 | 26/KF8DPZ | Cliff | Clinton Township | — |
| 19 | KE8DOT | Thomas | Redford Township | — |
| 20 | W8VD | Wally | New Baltimore | Member |