The Moultrie County coroner said that a 63-year-old Hammond man who died on a boat
Sunday morning apparently died from fumes of carbon monoxide from the boat's engine.
According to a Moultrie County coroner's report, Harold and Katana Ponder of Hammond
went to the Findlay marina and spent Saturday night on their boat at Lake Shelbyville. The
couple left both the boat's engine and air-conditioning unit running throughout the night,
the report said.

By 2 a.m. Sunday, Katana Ponder was not feeling well, according to the report, and she
noticed that her husband was not responsive. When Katana Ponder couldn't get the boat
started, she radioed for help.

Moultrie County sheriff's deputies, the Findlay Fire Department and the Sullivan paramedic
unit arrived at the scene a few minutes later.

The responders were also unable to get the boat started, and Harold Ponder remained
unresponsive.

Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed arrived on the boat by 3:15 a.m. and pronounced Mr.
Ponder dead at the scene at 3:45 a.m. The Ponders were taken to Shelby Memorial Hospital
in Shelbyville by ambulance.

While emergency personnel treated Katana Ponder for a high level of carbon monoxide,
Reed said an autopsy was completed on Mr. Ponder's body at the hospital.

While the results of the autopsy won't be known for about three weeks, Reed said it
appeared that Mr. Ponder died from exposure to a high amount of carbon monoxide.
"Mr. Ponder had an enlarged heart and heart disease, so a large concentration of carbon
monoxide would be fatal to him," Reed said. "Both the boat and air conditioner were running,
adding to the carbon monoxide. We did a test on the boat two hours later and the
carbon monoxide concentration was at 550 parts per million and still rising when we shut
the machine off."

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, colorless, odorless gas. According to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration Web site, factory workers are prohibited from being
exposed to more than 50 parts per million of carbon monoxide for eight hours or more.
A hospital spokeswoman said on Monday afternoon that Katana Ponder had been released
from the hospital.

Mr. Ponder was a former member of the Atwood-Hammond school board. Funeral arrangements
appear on A-4.

The Coast Guard, the Portland and South Portland Fire Departments, and the Portland
Harbormaster are joining forces to educate the public of the hazards of living aboard boats
during the winter.

Authorities speculate that in today’s economic climate, people who once lived aboard their
boats only during the warm months and rented homes during the winter, may now choose
to live aboard year round. Emergency officials have reached out to marinas in Maine to
identify the number of people who plan to live on their boats this winter.

Coast Guard Capt. James McPherson, the commander of Sector Northern New England,
stresses that the dangers of living aboard boats during the winter are real. “But if you take
time now to prepare, you can safely enjoy the winter on the water,” he said.

He said the primary dangers include carbon monoxide poisoning and fires from using small
heaters in confined spaces. “The likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning is greater during
the winter because the boats will be covered in shrink wrap to protect them from the
winter elements,” he said. This, he said, prevents adequate ventilation.

South Portland Fire Chief Kevin Guimond urges live-aboard residents to tell local emergency
responders where their boats are docked for the winter and to mark them accordingly.
“Our paramedics and firefighters can’t help you if we can’t find you,” he said.

Portland Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne also expressed concern for live-aboard residents this
winter. “We want to make sure people are aware of the extra precautions they need to
take once their boats are winterized.” LaMontagne said live-aboards should make sure they
have working carbon monoxide detectors installed. “And fire extinguishers should be positioned
throughout the boats and easily accessible in an emergency,” he said. He said liveaboard
residents should also file emergency response plans with the marina and their local
response agency.

Jeff Liick, Portland’s Harbor Master said that although living on the water in Maine is enjoyable,
it is especially challenging during the winter. “By taking the time now to talk about
some of the specific challenges that winter brings, we hope to make everyone as prepared
as possible,” he said.

Investigators say gas fumes likely caused an explosion that sent the owner of a 44-foot
yacht and three passengers on board the boat to the hospital, two with serious injuries.
But the source of those fumes and the reason they ignited remains under investigation.
The damage is evident. And boaters are still talking about what they saw Sunday afternoon.
"We were at North Beach, about an eighth of a mile away," said witness Greg Danno. "We
saw the black smoke. Like a plane crash.

Digital images show the disaster as it unfolded. The explosion put the four people near or
onboard the boat into the water.

Michigan State Police say Jim Fish, the owner of the boat, is in critical condition at Bronson
Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Three passengers from the Kalamazoo area, Keith Pepin, Anita Pryor and her son, Austin,
were also injured. Pepin is in fair condition. Anita Pryor is in serious condition, while Austin
Pryor was treated and released.

Investigators said they're convinced the explosion was an accident.

They're looking at the possibility that the boat's owner was refueling the yacht just before
the explosion, the fumes ignited by a spark on board.

Most boaters know to turn on the blowers, fans that blow any fumes out of the engine
compartment, before starting the boat.

"Here, they weren't looking to start the boat," said South Haven Area Emergency Services
Chief Ronald Wise. They were looking at probably trying to refuel it. It could have been
something as simple as turning the gas caddy on, turning a switch on, doing something
that, it could have been the vapors already on the boat."

The chief said propane used for cooking could also be a source of the vapors.
But investigators won't know for sure until they can get a closer look at the boat. Right
now, it's too unstable to climb aboard.

"Once we get the boat out of the water, the investigators will be able to tear through how
everything is stacked back there, look underneath there and see if there are any clues,"
said Chief Wise.