Firefighters Participate in "Heats On - Waters Off" Program

“Heat’s On – Water’s Off” Program
Helps Seniors in Tough Times


LANHAM, MD, September 21, 2009 every year since 1998, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropolitan Washington, Plumbers Local 5 and Steamfitters Local 602 have sponsored the Heat’s On – Water’s Off workday in Prince George’s County. The idea is to donate materials and expert volunteer services to help needy senior citizens make their homes ready for winter by repairing or replacing heating, plumbing and other mechanical equipment.

This year’s workday will be held on Saturday, September 26, and will target some thirty homes selected by the county’s Department of Family Services.

In a recession year, the project may be even more important than ever. “In many cases, seniors are having difficulty finding the resources to stay in their homes and communities,” says Steve Mack, President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Metro Washington. “Especially now, when times are tough, simply having the furnace or hot water heater in good working condition can mean the difference between living in comfortable, familiar surroundings and having to go into institutional care. That’s what makes doing this work so rewarding for our volunteers.”

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department will once again participate in this event by providing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to those in need. Firefighters will also perform a home fire safety inspection with the homeowner to reinforce basic fire safety and injury prevention tips.

The “Heat’s On – Water’s Off” program is sponsored nationally by the Mechanical Service Contractors of America, an organization of more than 750 companies who do service and maintenance work in the heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and plumbing industry.


NOTICE TO MEDIA: Heat’s On – Water’s Off has designated the home of Larry Carroll at 4900 Lexington Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705 as the place where reporters may conduct interviews, take photographs and news footage. The home will be open from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. for this purpose. Mr. Carroll is a 72-year-old cancer patient. The workers will install a new furnace at his home, which was heated last winter only by a wood stove.

MEDIA CONTACT - Jeanne Lee, jlee@mcamw.org, 301-731-0330

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