Local father raising awareness after son's carbon monoxide death

Steve Ford is turning personal tragedy into a warning for others after his teenage son died from carbon monoxide poisoning while ice fishing.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:55am

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A Howard County father is turning personal tragedy into a warning for others after his 16-year-old son, Joe, died from carbon monoxide poisoning last year while ice fishing in Russiaville. Steve Ford is now raising money to purchase and distribute free portable carbon monoxide detectors throughout the Kokomo area in an effort to save lives and honor his son's legacy.

Why it matters

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S., especially during colder months when the use of heating sources like propane heaters increases. This tragic story highlights the importance of having working carbon monoxide detectors not just in homes and businesses, but also during outdoor activities like hunting and fishing where portable heating sources may be used.

The details

Joe Ford died from carbon monoxide poisoning while using a propane heater inside a tent while ice fishing. Howard County officials determined the levels of the odorless, tasteless gas rose too high without any sensors or alarms to warn him. Now, his father Steve is working to distribute 1,000 free portable carbon monoxide detectors in the Kokomo area to raise awareness and potentially save lives.

  • Joe Ford died in January 2025 while ice fishing.
  • Steve Ford plans to distribute the free carbon monoxide detectors on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026.

The players

Steve Ford

A Howard County father who lost his 16-year-old son, Joe, to carbon monoxide poisoning and is now raising awareness and funds to distribute free portable carbon monoxide detectors.

Joe Ford

Steve Ford's 16-year-old son who died from carbon monoxide poisoning while ice fishing in Russiaville in January 2025.

Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian McPherson

A fire official who provided data and information about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, which he described as the "silent killer".

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What they’re saying

“If one person is saved or changes their mindset about when they're hunting or when they're fishing or when they're working in their shop, about their heat source and how the ventilation is able to save one person, it'd be worth it all.”

— Steve Ford

“You'll have that headache, you'll have that nausea, you'll have that feeling of tiredness.”

— Brian McPherson, Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief

“It's produced when we have incomplete burning of any type of fuel.”

— Brian McPherson, Indianapolis Fire Department Battalion Chief

What’s next

Steve Ford plans to distribute the free portable carbon monoxide detectors in Kokomo on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026.

The takeaway

This tragic story highlights the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the importance of having working carbon monoxide detectors, not just in homes and businesses, but also during outdoor activities where portable heating sources may be used. Steve Ford's mission to distribute free detectors could help save lives and honor his son's legacy.