Columbia Gas-Repaired Furnace Sends Family To Emergency Room

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- Officials in North Andover, Andover and Lawrence are urging residents to make sure their carbon monoxide detectors are in working order after a family was rushed to the hospital with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning Monday. The family lived in one of the areas affected by the Sept. 13 gas explosions and had their furnace repaired -- but not replaced -- by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts as part of its months-long effort to restore gas service to thousands of customers in the three communities.

Angie Platt said in a Facebook group for residents impacted by the explosions and recovery that the only member of her family who did not test positive for elevated levels of carbon monoxide was her three-week old baby. The family was treated and released. "Our levels aren’t at a level that requires medical care luckily," Platt said. Platt said gas has been turned off to her home and the boilers are being replaced.

"We worked with local authorities and looked into this situation. Our review indicates that following the November repair, the heating equipment was working properly and passed safety inspection," Dean Lieberman, a Columbia Gas spokesman, said Monday morning. "We continue to review. Our main concern is the health and safety of our customers and we are relieved that no customers were harmed."

When Columbia Gas announced in October that it would miss a Nov. 19 deadline to restore service to thousands of customer without heat or hot water in the Merrimack Valley, it said it would repair boilers instead of replacing them to make sure it would meet a Dec. 19 deadline. The new plan pushed replacing furnaces and other equipment off until after winter.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).