YARMOUTH, Maine — A Yarmouth man was rushed to Maine Medical Center in Portland on Wednesday morning after fire and rescue personnel found him alone in his home suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Yarmouth rescue workers were called at 7:15 a.m. to the Hillside Street home, and on arrival immediately determined there was “an extremely dangerous level” of carbon monoxide in the home, Deputy Chief Richard Kindelan said Wednesday.
The home had not been plowed or shoveled out, and Kindelan said emergency crews had a difficult time gaining access to the residence until a Good Samaritan plowed the driveway.
Kindelan said vents to the furnace were completely covered by snow, and no carbon monoxide detector was installed in the home.
The deputy chief encouraged people to make sure vents from all heating sources remain clear of snow and ice, and asked residents to keep their driveways passable in case emergency crews need to reach them.
The condition of the patient, whose name was not disclosed, was not immediately available.