FIRE officials in Cornwall have renewed their appeal for householders to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning after two fatal incidents within days of each other.

John Cook, 90, his wife Audrey, 86, their daughter Maureen, 46, and their five-year-old dog Jannie died in the latest incident involving suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at Tremarle Home Park near Camborne at the weekend. Eleven days earlier a woman and three dogs died in what is also suspected to be an incident of carbon monoxide poisoning at St Ives.

Crew manager Mark Pratten, from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said this week: 'These tragic events within days of each other highlight how important it is to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

'A colourless, odourless and poisonous gas, carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels including gas, oil, wood and coal.

'In most cases of accidental poisonings, victims don't realise that carbon monoxide is being produced or building up in the air they are breathing.

'Everyone needs to know about the dangers of carbon monoxide and how to protect themselves from this silent killer.'

The public in South East Cornwall has reacted to the tragedies by buying more carbon monoxide detectors.

Neil Austen, of the Stove Shop in Liskeard's Pike Street, said that he had seen an increase in customers wishing to buy detectors.

Neil has recently put up posters, both in the shop window and inside the store, which ask people 'Have you got a carbon monoxide alarm?'. The posters detail the steps to be taken to prevent a build-up of the gas.

It is now a requirement for any company installing a new constantly burning unit to put in a carbon monoxide detector at the same time, said Neil, who added that people need to have a separate alarm in every room where there is a stove, a boiler with a pilot light or an open gas coal-effect fire.

Shoppers Mr and Mrs Cummings, of Liskeard, were visiting the Stove Shop – while the Cornish Times was there – to purchase a second detector for their home.

'We've already got one in the lounge, where we've got a gas fire,' said Mrs Cummings. 'We thought it wise to come in and buy another one for the dining room and kitchen area after those poor souls down west died. It was tragic.'

Sales assistant Darren Pirus, who works at HE Goldsworthy in Liskeard, said: 'We've definitely seen more people than normal buying detectors.'

Christine Allman, who together with husband Roland owns Modern Grates in Barn Street, Liskeard, said that it was mainly older people who had come in recently to buy an alarm.

'This last week we must have sold half a dozen,' she said.