Crime & Safety

Fire Marshal: Fairhaven Resident Uses Lighter to Adjust Oxygen Machine, Causes Fire

A Friday night fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damages.

A fire broke out at Fairhaven Retirement Community in Sykesville Friday evening after an 81-year-old resident attempted to adjust his own oxygen machine, according to the Deputy State Fire Marshal.

According to a Fire Marshal report, firefighters from Sykesville Volunteer Fire Department were called just before 7 p.m. to the three story assisted living facility. Upon arrival, the firefighters discovered a fire had been extinguished by two sprinklers in room 217 and one sprinkler head located just outside the room.  

According to a Fire Marshal report, investigators concluded Millard Keller, 81, was attempting to shorten the oxygen tubing that assisted him to breath by cutting the tubing and then with a metal awl and a cigarette lighter attempted to conform the tube to the adapter on the machine, subsequently igniting nearby combustibles which quickly spread due to the oxygen rich environment. 

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The fire was quickly contained by sprinklers but not before causing an estimated $50,000 in damages. No injuries were reported including the occupant of the room, according to the Fire Marshal report.


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