Local fire officials are warning of the dangers of CO

As the state fire marshal’s office on Tuesday announced the accidental carbon monoxide poisoning deaths of a 78-year-old man and 79-year-old woman in Bedford, local fire officials are warning of the dangers of CO, particularly as the temperatures cool and furnaces are turned on. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a byproduct of combustion. Common appliances, such as water heaters, furnaces, stoves, and generators, can produce CO. “Typically, when we change the clock back, we talk about checking the batteries on your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors,” said Littleton Fire Rescue Chief Chad Miller. With a limited supply, LFR does have several donated carbon monoxide detectors at the fire station, which residents can use at no cost.