Salem, NH – State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan and Salem Fire Chief Kevin Breen announced today that a carbon monoxide incident last evening has claimed the life of one individual, becoming the second carbon monoxide fatality of the ice storm.

Salem Fire Fighters responded to 13 Mason Drive at approximately 9:40 PM last evening for the report of smoke in the building. Fire Fighters were on the scene within three minutes and discovered that a furnace problem had claimed the life of the home owner, Mr. Alexander Tonca, age 77 and his dog. Fire Fighters found carbon monoxide levels as high as 700 parts per million in the home. The home was not equipped with a carbon monoxide detector, or working smoke detectors.

The lethal levels of carbon monoxide in the home were caused by an over load of fuel in the furnace and a delayed ignition, most probably the result of electric power being restored to the area yesterday afternoon. Degnan stated that incidents involving delayed ignition can occur any time throughout the heating season, but power outages such as the one that the state is experiencing as a result of last weeks ice storm can increase the probability. Degnan stated that anyone utilizing a fuel fired appliance should have a carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home; not having one could mean the difference between surviving a carbon monoxide incident or becoming a statistic. Degnan stated "Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer. You cannot see, taste or smell carbon monoxide, but it can cause severe health problems or even death". Small exposures to carbon monoxide over a prolonged period of time are just as lethal as high exposures over shorter periods, like the incident in the Salem.

Unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills and injures people across the nation and New Hampshire each year. Degnan stated "Heating systems and generators are the most common source of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in New Hampshire, but carbon monoxide can also be caused by cooking appliances, space heaters, motor vehicles left running in attached garages or adjacent to a building, generators used during power outages or any other type of fuel burning appliance."

For more information on home fire safety, or carbon monoxide safety, please contact your local fire department or the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office at (603) 223-4289.