Berlin Brush Fire: Firefighters Unite To 'Slay The Dragon': UPDATE

BERLIN, CT — With help from the skies, progress against a massive wildfire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin is being reported as firefighters continue to "slay the dragon," fire officials said.

Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department issued another update on the fire, dubbed "The Hawthorne Fire."

According to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, two Connecticut National Guard helicopters joined the operations Wednesday and helped douse flames from above at Lamentation Mountain.

Fire officials said ground-level firefighters held their lines while battling the blaze Wednesday morning, with air operations taking over in the afternoon.

The BVFD posted video images of National Guard helicopters picking and carrying massive buckets of water from nearby Silver Lake to douse the burning brush.

Those air operations were expected to resume Thursday, boosted by some light rain that, although likely not a difference maker, couldn't hurt the firefighting efforts.

"Ground teams will continue to coordinate with air resources and work will resume building, improving, and maintaining control lines," the BVFD said in a statement.

Firefighters were also able to get a more accurate accounting of the acreage impacted.

Earlier, reports had the number of acres burned to be 100-125, but the BVFD said overnight that those figures are now closer to 65-70 acres.

But, the BVFD said, those estimates could increase again as they reported an overnight flare-up on the fire's southern edge.

Meanwhile, firefighters said Silver Lake, the state boat launch area there, and Norton Lane are closed to the public as part of the battle.

The public is being urged to stay away from those locations, as well as the fire scene itself.

"The temporary flight restriction remains in place, " wrote the BVFD. "Drones and aircraft should not enter the airspace in and around the area of the fire."

The flight restrictions clear the way for helicopters to do their work, with firefighting helicopter units from Maine, reportedly, discussed.

It was not clear, however, if the Maine units have arrived or will be utilized, as Connecticut National Guard helicopters were being utilized Wednesday.

As for the complicated logistics of the fight itself, the BVFD offered some insight into that Thursday afternoon, posting images of the command-and-control center being utilized to coordinate the attack.

"Many agencies have come together to slay the dragon as we say. State of Connecticut and many local mutual aid partners" wrote the BVFD via Facebook.

"Incident management is no small task and with the help of all involved, we will be victorious. Sadly we must continue the fight in light of the fatality of firefighter Rob Sharkevich. Just know he is in our hearts as we carry on the fight."

Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr., 66, was killed Tuesday after a WVVFD utility vehicle specially designed for battling forest fires overturned during firefighting operations late Tuesday afternoon.

His death prompted an outpouring of tributes about his decades-long firefighting career as well as the hazards all responders face while serving their communities.

Thursday, a GoFundMe page was set up to help the family of Sharkevich, with $53,403 already being raised toward a $100,000 goal.

Since the fire started, fire officials have repeatedly said no evacuations from homes nearby are necessary and the blaze is sufficiently contained regarding any threats to homes/property nearby.

The fire remains to only impact unpopulated areas.

Meanwhile, fire officials are urging folks in the area to refrain from burning and to be cautious. They add that other small brush fires have also been reported, including one nearby that torched an acre.

"Town of Berlin and City of Meriden resources were immediately dispatched to the area and the fire was able to be put under control with no issues," the BVFD said. "There was no impact on operations at the Hawthorne fire from the additional fires and extreme caution is encouraged until weather conditions improve."

It has been a chaotic week for several area fire departments, one marked by concern and tragedy.

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

Firefighters with Berlin 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, and Meriden are also assisting.

The Southington Fire Department has also joined the fray, with the SFD posting images of their units in the woods tackling the flames, offering the public an inside look at what firefighters are facing.

"We’re happy to assist our neighbors whenever they need us," wrote the SFD via social media.

To donate to help the family of fallen Wethersfield firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr., click on this link.

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

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

To view more pictures of the Lamentation Mountain fire, click on the BVFD's Facebook page.

To see a video of Connecticut National Guard helicopters battling the fires, click on this link.