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Jackson man’s company helps fight fires on two fronts

Afton Eftink, president and owner of SirVent STL, left, presents a $500 check to Captain Michael Gentry of the Gordonville Fire Protection District. Submitted photo

Jackson resident Afton Eftink is owner and president of SirVent STL, a company that helps fight fires on two fronts.

First and foremost, the company offers chimney sweeping and inspection services to prevent chimney fires.

Secondly, the company has started a new program called “SirVing Small Town Heroes” in which a portion of December profits are donated to volunteer fire departments within the company’s service area. To kick off this program, $500 was presented to the Gordonville Fire Prevention District last month.

The funds will be used to purchase personal protection equipment (11 pairs of extrication gloves for the firefighters to wear).

“My brother was a volunteer firefighter before he went into the Air Force,” Eftink said. From this, he realized how much time it takes to be a volunteer firefighter, and he wanted to do something to give back to these people who often don’t get the praise they deserve, he explained.

Eftink plans to continue the program next December and will probably select a fire department near Ste. Genevieve.

SirVent STL has a shop in Ste. Genevieve, and the company serves an area that reaches about an hour away in each direction.

When Eftink began his company in November 2018, he at first focused most of his attention on the St. Louis area, because there were more potential customers there. He is looking now to expand awareness of his company in our area and further south. His service area stretches from St. Louis all the way to Sikeston.

SirVent is a full-service chimney and fireplace service company. Each inspection includes a free sweep.

“Our goal is for everyone’s fireplace to meet standards and be safe to use,” Eftink said. He makes sure that “the venting components are functioning as designed.”

SirVent STL uses a state-of-the-art camera system to visually inspect the chimney and flue. It’s run up the chimney from inside the home. Homeowners are invited to watch the images and have them explained. The device also can take pictures of problem areas.

Inspectors climb up on the roof as well, so they can look for possible entry points where water can make intrusion into the flue and cause corrosion.

In addition to fireplace chimneys, SirVent STL also inspects and repairs flues for furnaces and water heaters.

Gregory Dullum has worked for The Cash-Book Journal for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming the editor in May 2017, he was production manager, circulation manager and reporter. Before moving to Cape Girardeau in 1988, he was editor of the Saint Louis Park Sailor, a weekly community newspaper in suburban Minneapolis, MN. A native of Minnesota, he returned there after graduating with distinction in 1978 from Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA, with a degree in mass communications. His wife, Marie, whom he met in college, is a native of Zalma, a small town in southeast Missouri. They have two grown daughters and five grandchildren. Gregory may be reached at cashbook@mvp.net.

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