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Dec. 11--NORWICH -- City building inspectors have filed complaints with state officials against a Niantic chimney contractor for alleged illegal and dangerous installations of chimney liners in two Norwich homes.

In each incident, city inspectors said, home improvement contractor Marc Anthony
of Pro Safe Chimney, Inc. of 75 Society Road, Niantic, ran one section of chimney liner from the roof down, and a second section from the basement up the chimney. Anthony never connected the two pieces and left a large gap that allowed heated exhaust and carbon monoxide to vent into the chimney shaft, the inspectors said.

In each case, inspectors said, Pro Safe Chimney did not obtain city permits, which would have prompted inspections of the finished work to ensure it was done correctly.

Building officials filed the complaints with the Occupational Licensing Unit of the state Department of Consumer Protection. The department is investigating, said Claudette Carveth, director of communications for the state agency. Anthony has a valid home improvement license that expires Nov. 30, 2010.

Anthony declined to comment on the complaints, but said problems he encountered at the home at 108 Boswell Ave. made the job difficult. He said he had no information on the second home on Yantic Lane, where the improper chimney liner was discovered last week.

City officials were alerted to the first incident on Oct. 22. Assistant Building Official Greg Arpin and Norwich Fire Chief Kenneth Scandariato, both on their way to work, spotted what they thought was a fully involved structure fire at 108 Boswell Ave. They saw smoke pouring out the attic roof eaves and from the chimney

The smoke was furnace exhaust that had escaped from the gap in the chimney liner and entered the attic through a large hole in the chimney.

In his letter of complaint to the state, Arpin wrote that the incident "could have had a tragic ending." A police officer got homeowner Joyce Persson out of the structure.

Arpin ended up condemning the house for the furnace and chimney problems along with other unsafe electrical and excessive clutter issues.

Inspectors learned of the second incident at a home on Yantic Lane last week. The homeowners asked not to be identified. In that incident, the homeowners became suspicious of the work done by Pro Safe Chimney immediately following the installation and called a second contractor, Armstrong Chimney Services LLC of Baltic.

Armstrong called city building inspector Joseph East to the house. East ran a light attached to a rope down the chimney and saw an estimated 2-foot gap in the chimney liner. He said the installation was done without permits. A state inspector visited the property on Monday.

Scandariato said the two improper installations were extremely hazardous.

The Yantic Lane homeowners said they stopped payment on their check to Pro Safe Chimney, and hired Armstrong to install a new liner. East issued a letter of compliance to the homeowners on Monday certifying that the new work was done properly.

c.bessette@theday.com