Press Release

Yes We Can!

Trecan Combustion answers Washington’s call for snowmelters.

On December 3, 2008, TRECAN Combustion received a telephone call from Robert L. Marsili, Jr. the Citywide Program Manager for the District Department of Transportation and Transportation Operations Administration for Washington D.C. Mr. Marsili was in charge of the snow management and removal plan for the January 2009 Barack Obama Inauguration. The main objective of the snow management plan was to achieve 100% snow removal for any possible snow storm that might occur during the inauguration with the primary goal of keeping 2.4 miles of roadway (approximately 12,400 square feet) open from the Capital to the White House for the Presidential Inauguration parade. His team was also tasked with snow management and removal for Constitution Avenue, 15th Street and 17th Street and were planning for a possible 6 inch, 12 inch or an 18 inch snowfall that would leave anywhere between 6,000 and 18,000 tons of snow on the parade route and connecting city streets. After careful analysis and research on Snowmelters, he contacted Canadian Snowmelter manufacturer TRECAN COMBUSTION in Halifax, Nova Scotia and in keeping with Barak Obama’s campaign theme, Trecan’s National Sales Manager; Terry Dwyer answered “yes we can”. It was determined that by having four TRECAN 135-PD (Portable) Snowmelters capable of melting 135 tons of snow per hour, on stand by and strategically located at a nearby Public Works yard they would be ready and able to complete their goals and objectives should a snow fall occur.

Trecan did not have four 135-PD Portable Snowmelters available at the time, so they put Mr. Marsili in touch with Mike Ferrucci, the President of SNOWLIFT, a New York based snow removal contractor which has thirty eight Trecan Snowmelters in their rental fleet. SNOWLIFT currently has contracts to provide Snowmelters, loaders and personnel to many major US Airports including Chicago, O’Hare, Mid Way, Boston Logan, LaGuardia, Newark and others. SNOWLIFT was able accommodate Washington’s request and supplied four TRECAN 135-PD Snowmelters, several loaders, and personnel for the January 2009 Barack Obama Inauguration.