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Crews battle Connecticut’s Hawthorne bushfire for fourth day – NBC Connecticut

Posted on by Josh L
Crews battle Connecticut’s Hawthorne bushfire for fourth day – NBC Connecticut

Gusty winds and freezing temperatures caused some flare-ups Thursday night as crews worked around the clock to contain a massive fire in Hawthorne.

Thursday was the fourth day of efforts. Officials are urging tourists to stay away from flying drones on Berlin’s Wailing Mountain.

Officials said they received reports that hikers had climbed the mountain. When or if this happens, crews must stop what they are doing and cannot continue to pour water on the fire.

During the evening hours, several drones and aircraft affected the waterfall operations. Whenever air operations are suspended, it takes at least 30-45 minutes to get the planes back in the air.

Fire Chief Yonn Massirio said crews likely could have made better progress without the disruption.

“Fortunately, the incursions did not contribute to the spread of the fire,” Massirio said.

The fire covered an area of ​​about 107 hectares. Officials say it could take a month to bring the fire under control.

While firefighters manually dig a perimeter around the fire to contain it, other crews battle the fire from the air.

The Connecticut National Guard responded with two National Guard airships that dropped the water on Wednesday, and a third helicopter was brought in on Thursday.

More than 127,000 gallons of water have already been dumped on the fire.

During a press conference Thursday, crews said they were working on a map of the containment zone.

The Maine Air Forestry Unit is also providing aerial firefighting resources. Crews from neighboring states also sent firefighters.

According to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, the fire spread mostly north and south along the ridges behind Sea Green Drive, with the southern edge extending into Meriden.

Residents of the area called that the fire was close to their homes. Firefighters said they installed protective measures, such as sprinklers, to prevent the fire from spreading.

Fire officials said there are contingencies that include trigger points, which are geographic locations that create boundaries. When the fire reaches these points, it will determine if and when there will be evacuation orders.

The authorities said that they are confident that the protective measures in place will be sufficient to ensure the safety of residents.

Photos: Crews battle massive Hawthorne fire

Crews are focusing their efforts on the north and south ends of the fire.

Officials with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are urging people to stay away from the area and say ATVs and SUVs should not enter the area.

“Quad bikes and off-road vehicles should not enter the territory. It creates a hazard, and if these items do end up in an area like the aerial aspect, we have to land the helicopters,” Forest Service Supervisor Thomas Trask said.

The right lane of the northbound Berlin Freeway will remain closed in the area of ​​Tollgate Road to allow fire crews to enter and exit the Weeping Mountain area. The police ask drivers to refrain from stopping on the road and in this area.

About 40 municipal firefighters and 30 wildland firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, and officials are trying to get more help to ease the work of crews who have been working since Monday evening to bring the blaze under control.

“Rest is huge. You know, you can, you can work and work and work and not realize that you’re going to get exhausted very quickly up there in those dry conditions,” Massirio said. “Your body moisture drops very quickly. You get dehydrated, you know, without even talking to dangerous terrain. It’s a completely different animal.”

A firefighter died while extinguishing the fire

Robert Sharkiewicz Sr., or Sharkey, was a real firefighter. After his death, his family relies on each other, their memories and the stories of the countless people who knew and loved him.

A fire took a tragic turn Tuesday night when a Wethersfield firefighter died while fighting the blaze.

Robert Sharkiewicz Sr., 66, a Wethersfield volunteer, died Tuesday after a utility vehicle carrying four firefighters overturned on a trail while working to contain a large Weeping Mountain brush fire, now known as the Hawthorne fire.

The Office of the Chief Forensic Medical Examiner established that he died from a blow to the head and neck with a blunt object, and his death was ruled an accident.

“Firefighter Robert Sharkiewicz’s dedication to keeping our community safe is nothing short of heroic,” Gov. Ned Lamont said on social media.

Three other firefighters were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and have been released.

“We are truly heartbroken over the tragic death of Wethersfield firefighter, Robert E. Sharkiewicz, Sr. His devotion and bravery will always be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the Wethersfield Fire Department,” said Wethersfield Mayor Ken Lesser.

Sharkiewicz, known as Sharkey, was also a retired Hartford firefighter, according to police.

“Whether retired or active, every firefighter is an important part of our brotherhood and our loss is deeply felt by all,” the Hartford Fire Department said in a statement. “Firefighter Sharkevich’s legacy will continue to inspire us and remind us of the bravery and dedication that define our profession.”

The governor ordered Connecticut flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Sharkevich. All US and state flags will remain at half-mast until sunset on the day of the burial.

Services for Sharkevich will be held on Sunday and Monday.

Calling hours are set for Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. at Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home in Wethersfield, with a funeral service scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford.

All Wethersfield Public Schools will Monday off at Sharkevich’s memorial service.

The Meriden Police Department is investigating.

Impact on residents

No homes were damaged by the fire, and no evacuation or shelter-in-place orders were issued.

Officials said Thursday morning that the homes are well secured and a team is working to secure the structures.

They also said there are no air quality issues. Some residents may notice smoke, so people with health problems should close windows.

Residents may also see crews in their neighborhoods testing air quality as a precaution.

An emergency warning was issued Thursday morning urging people to avoid Berlin’s Weeping Mountain and surrounding wooded areas until 6 p.m.

Residents living on Silver Lake are asked to stay away from the lake for the next several days until the fire is contained.

Fire crews are working to bring water tankers to the top of the mountain as a dumping ground. Affected property owners have been notified, officials said.

People who live in the area can sign up for emergency alerts through the cities of Berlin or Meriden or CT Alert. Learn more about CT Alert here.

Request for financial assistance

Authorities contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through Region 1 to request firefighting assistance.

The grant will help offset costs associated with the Hawthorne fire.

Fire officials said it was a very expensive operation that had already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The request has not yet been approved.

Control of electrical influence

Eversource said it is closely monitoring power lines and equipment in the area and will conduct an aerial survey of three high-voltage power lines about a mile and a half from where they believe the fire started.

They said they found no problems with any electrical equipment in the area and no related power outages were reported.

“This large brush fire is in close proximity to our transmission lines, which are the backbone of the regional power grid, and with the wind expected to increase, we are not taking any chances,” said Eversource Connecticut President of Electric Operations Steve Sullivan. said “We have plans in place to quickly reroute power to other lines to minimize any disruption to our customers, and we are in close communication with the governor’s office, DEEP and local partners from the Berlin Fire and Police Department regarding the fire and any the potential effects it may have on the electrical system. Our on-site team is also ready to assist rescuers in any way possible.”

Closing

The Weeping Mountain Fire has closed Weeping Mountain State Park and Juffrid Park in Meriden.

Tourists in the area have been warned to stay away from the fire, particularly due to the large amount of water being dumped to try to contain the fire.

The Middletown Police Department said the city is closely monitoring the fire. Residents and commuters in the Westfield area near the Berlin/Meriden town line are asked to avoid the area so emergency crews can respond if needed.

Middletown residents are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts for the State of Connecticut and the City of Middletown.

The Silver Lake boathouse remains closed and people are asked to stay away so as not to hinder firefighting efforts.

The cause and origin of the fire is being established.

Flight restrictions

Flight restrictions apply.

Crews are warning people not to fly their drones or personal aircraft over the area. Drones can pose a danger to aerial firefighting efforts.

Authorities said the use of drones interfered with crews. With the help of police resources, they try to track the use of drones.

“Any pilot should know these rules and follow these restrictions,” Massirio said. “If we find who is doing this, the police will visit them and take appropriate action.”

Officials said the no-fly zone would be extended on Friday.

Community support

Officials leading the firefighting effort said they have been overwhelmed with support from businesses and restaurants that have donated food.

Many donations could feed large groups of people. Officials said they were grateful and it helped morale, but asked donors to reduce the size of the food to one that could feed 20 to 25 people, not large groups.