Berlin Brush Fire: The Fight Moves Into Its Second Week

BERLIN, CT — The "Hawthorne Fire" continues to burn at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin, with area firefighters now taking the battle into its second week.

With Connecticut besieged with unseasonably dry weather, the forest fire danger is high in Connecticut and, as a result, more brush fires are being seen statewide, officials said.

Berlin's fire department and several departments in the area have battled the inferno, caused by an abandoned campfire on Oct. 21, for several days nonstop.

Sadly, Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr. was killed Oct. 22 when the forest firefighting vehicle he was in overturned. His funeral and burial were Monday, Oct. 28.

So far, the fire is believed to have burned 100 to 125 acres of land depending on various estimates, with the fire still confined to unpopulated areas of town and not required any evacuations.

Firefighters continue to hold the line, with the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department posting spectacular air images of the blaze's impact and its proximity to one local neighborhood.

The first reports of the blaze started coming in from area residents at about 5:44 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 at Lamentation Mountain State Park in Berlin/Meriden.

Firefighters with the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Wildfire Division are among several units battling the fire.

In addition, firefighters from Newington, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Westfield, Southington, and Meriden are also assisting.

DEEP has been posting regular press briefings on its Facebook page to update the media/public on the fire. They can be found at this link.

From Oct. 28: 'Berlin Brush Fire: Blaze Enters 2nd Week As Hero Is Laid To Rest'

From Oct. 25: 'Berlin Brush Fire: Services Set For FF, Emergency Declared: UPDATE'

From Oct. 24: 'Berlin Brush Fire: Firefighters Unite To 'Slay The Dragon': UPDATE'

From Oct. 23: 'Wethersfield Community Mourns Loss Of Beloved Firefighter'

From Oct. 22: 'Berlin Brush Fire: Firefighter Mourned As Blaze Still Burns: UPDATE'