SATURDAY, January 9, 1999

DIGEST
TORRANCE

Fire Officials Caution About Gas-fired Furnaces

Gas-fired forced-air furnaces caused fires in the attics of three homes in Torrance last month, and city fire officials are reminding residents to take precautions.

Many homes are heated by a gas-fired, horizontal forced air-furnace mounted in the attic. These sheet metal furnaces are box-shaped - about 2 feet wide by nearly 5 feet long.

When the sheet metal box that contains the furnace overheats, fire often results.

The three recent fires in Torrance occurred in forced-air furnaces installed in 1989 and 1990, although the failures do not necessarily occur just in heaters installed during certain time periods.

The furnaces involved are natural draft models and were sold from September 1983 through December 1991 under many different brand names. Some were sold by Consolidated Industries under the name Premier, according to a press release issued by the city.

All three of the Torrance fires involved the Premier model furnaces, the press release said.

Homeowners with gas-fired horizontal forced-air beaters should contact a licensed heating and air conditioning contractor for a safety inspection. If a homeowner or contractor needs assistance in determining if a furnace is a Consolidated Industries furnace, they can call 800-735-1666, Ext. 518.

Mary Moore