Firefighters Find Unconscious Man Near Kerosene Heater In Ashland Apartment
ASHLAND (CBS) - Ashland firefighters found a dangerous make-shift heater inside an apartment. It was a kerosene heater and on top of it was a metal rack holding a piece of plywood wrapped in aluminum foil to deflect the heat down.
They made the discovery Tuesday night. Firefighters received a wellness check call for the man who lives in a studio apartment on Main Street. They found the 57-year-old tenant unconscious on the floor.
Firefighters said they immediately noticed the kerosene heater. "It's going to release carbon monoxide and use the oxygen up. It is an incredible fire hazard because it's got an open flame," said Lt. David Iarussi.
He described the aluminum foil addition. "Some type of inverter for heat. I've never seen anything like it," said Iarussi.
The man has lived there for about four years. Firefighters said the furnace was turned off and it appears the tenant had been using the heater for a while.
"You could tell from the soot on the ceiling there was definitely a problem with this unit," said Iarussi.
As of Wednesday night the man was still in the hospital. The apartment does not have smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. The fire department has been in touch with the apartment's owner, who is currently out-of-state, and he promises to have them installed on Thursday.
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