CECIL COUNTY, MD—A 59-year-old man is dead, and a woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition after being found in their Earleville home with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning over the weekend.

Cecilton Volunteer Fire Department and Cecil County Department of Emergency Services paramedics responded to 12 Florida Avenue in Crystal Beach at around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, February 24, 2024 after family members went to check on the couple. They called 9-1-1 after finding Steven C. Hannaford unresponsive in the living room and his 65-year-old girlfriend in a bedroom, shivering and disoriented. Hannaford was later pronounced dead, and the woman was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

Cecil County Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner requested the Office of the State Fire Marshal after initially responding to the home for the death investigation. They discovered the home had no electricity, a strong odor of kerosene inside, and soot-covered walls.

Deputy State Fire Marshals discovered a kerosene heater was the only source of heat, that the heater’s chimney was not seated properly, and the fuel inside had run dry. While the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will officially determine the cause of death, investigators believe carbon monoxide caused by the incomplete combustion of the kerosene heater was a contributing factor.

“This tragic event is a reminder to reflect on your own family’s safety during difficult times due to weather,” stated Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. “Routine maintenance and safe operation of heating equipment, combined with properly installed and operating smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, and practicing your home escape plans are a life-saving combination for all Marylanders,” Mowbray said.

Although kerosene heaters are very efficient at burning fuel to produce heat, certain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, are produced. Low levels of these pollutants may be harmful, especially to individuals with chronic respiratory or circulatory health problems. To ensure that you and your family members are not exposed to significant levels of these pollutants, the Office of the State Fire Marshal suggests the following:

• If you use kerosene fuel-fired heaters, use only “K-1” kerosene fuel. Never fill the unit inside; remove it to the structure’s exterior after it has cooled before refueling. Note: Portable kerosene heaters are banned for use in Baltimore City.
• Operate your heater in a room with a door open to the rest of the house.
• Open an outside window approximately one inch to permit fresh air.
• Always use your heater according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that the wick is set at the proper level, as instructed by the manufacturer.
• Ensure the wick in your heater is clean and in good operating condition by following the cleaning and maintenance procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

Photo via the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal