Several public employees and volunteers in the Middletown area are due for a rest after suddenly being called out to do exhausting work during the hottest point of the day.

Town of Wallkill water and sewer technicians handled a water main leak on East Main Street Monday just as quickly as they would have, even if it were not close to 100 degrees. When Water and Sewer Department employee Clark Najac received the call at about 6 a.m. Monday, it was already 75 degrees and humid.

"Almost lunch time," he said smiling. "I hope I make it to lunch time. Then I'll need some AC for a few minutes."

The crews said an old valve had broken causing a leak that tanked water pressure in nearby homes, requiring crews to dig up and replace the valve. Water service was restored at about 9 a.m., though the crews still had hours of work to do in the sun: secure the main, refill the hole and clean up the scene.

Wallkill Water and Sewer Administrator Rob Waligrowski said they managed to finish the job quickly partly because he planned for the conditions. He booked some additional staff for the job so that when someone took a break, a reliever stepped in.

"If they need a break, they know they can take a time-out and get out of the ditch," Waligrowski said. "There are no questions asked."

A few blocks west of the water main repair, the heat also tested Middletown-area firefighters. They responded to a fire overnight at East Main and Prospect Avenue that damaged a business and five apartments. Then a rekindle forced them to return at about 10:30 a.m., when temperatures were already pushing 90 degrees. News 12 has not learned of any heat-related injuries to Middletown-area firefighters, nor the water and sewer techs who were fixing the water main.