Life-saving inspections performed by local companies

“With the recent deaths that we’ve had in the Miami Valley, we want to make sure that people are going to stay safe,” said Amanda Kinsella, marketing director at Logan A/C & Heating Services.

In February, carbon monoxide poisoning caused the deaths of three teenage girls, and sickened a young boy in a Troy home.

“Carbon monoxide poisoning, I hadn’t even heard of — I mean I’d heard, but thinking not me, not us,” said Olivia Clay, whose West Dayton home was serviced pro bono by technician Finley Drake of Kirkwood Heating & Cooling.

Service technicians visited elderly, disabled and low-income home owners, and what they found raised some alarm.

“We fired the first furnace off and it would light fine for a short period of time and then flames would actually come out of the front of the furnace,” Drake said.

The faulty furnaces discovered Friday will be replaced at the service providers’ and suppliers’ cost. Each home was also equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.

“A simple carbon monoxide detector could save your life,” said Jeff Adams, director of field services at Logan A/C and Heat Services. Those who cannot afford detectors are urged to contact their local fire departments and ask for one.