LOS ANGELES, CA — Thousands of potentially dangerous attic furnaces have been recalled in California. The furnaces, which were made by now-bankrupt Consolidated Industries, were suspected of starting several house fires in the state over the last decade.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the units will be repaired or replaced at the expense of the distributor. Seven companies that distributed units made by Consolidated Industries will voluntarily repair or replace any of the units. It is estimated that 30,000 of these units were installed in attics across California and were sold under 30 different brand names. According to federal safety engineers, the furnace fires were caused by alterations made in the system to comply with regional smog control rules.