Baltimore County Fire Chief John J. Hohman In my 35 years in the
Fire Service, I’ve seen how advances in technology, equipment
and building codes have saved lives. One of the most important
advances is one of the most humble: the small, inexpensive
carbon monoxide detector. Here in Baltimore County, the Fire
Department responds to a growing number of calls involving
carbon monoxide (CO) gas – and that is a good thing. Why?
Because the calls are generated by CO detectors that are
alerting residents to a potentially deadly problem before it
becomes deadly. In recent years and following a number of CO
tragedies, Baltimore County enacted legislation requiring CO
detectors in all rental housing and in some owner-occupied
residences. During November, fire crews responded to 50 CO calls
– none of them involving serious injury. I can’t overestimate
how dangerous CO – which kills by robbing oxygen from the blood
– is. Carbon monoxide is produced during the burning of fossil
fuels – oil, gas, coal, propane, wood. If yo