BERLIN, Conn. — A tragic incident occurred while firefighters were working to control a brush fire in Connecticut, resulting in the death of a firefighter. According to initial police reports, the firefighter, identified as Robert Sharkevich, 66, was struck and killed by a utility vehicle that overturned on a steep and rocky slope during the operations.
In the Monday incident, three other firefighters sustained minor injuries; they experienced only bumps and bruises and are expected to be discharged from the hospital soon. Most of the firefighters involved in battling the brush fire, which spanned 125 acres on Lamentation Mountain, approximately 15 miles south of Hartford, took a break from operations on Tuesday to recuperate. “The firefighter who passed away was a local hero and one of our mutual aid responders,” commented Berlin Fire Department Lieutenant John Massirio. He emphasized that the fire teams have been provided with resources and stress debriefing support after the unfortunate event.
Robert Sharkevich was a vital part of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and had also served as a firefighter for the city of Hartford before retiring. On Tuesday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in tribute to Sharkevich, recognizing his long-standing commitment to public service and the safety of his community.
About 70 state and local firefighters persisted in combating the brush fire on Tuesday, with the blaze reportedly contained within a hand-dug perimeter as of the previous night. According to Michael Kronick, the fire control officer with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s western district, crews were focused on securing this containment area. However, he cautioned that wind, low humidity, and dry conditions could pose challenges to their efforts.
Help from aerial resources was on the way, with a forestry helicopter from Maine anticipated to join the fight Tuesday afternoon to assist with water drops. Furthermore, Connecticut National Guard helicopters were scheduled to be deployed to the area by Thursday, as noted by Bill Turner, the state’s emergency management director. He remarked on the importance of aerial support given the challenging terrain and accessibility issues for ground crews.
Kronick warned that the wildland firefighters might need to remain active on-site for at least a month due to the extremely dry conditions, which have persisted without significant rainfall since August. That month did see substantial flooding resulting from around 10 inches of rain, but the current lack of precipitation has made the state particularly vulnerable to wildfires. “We’re experiencing conditions similar to those typically seen in the western United States right now,” he noted.
The fire, which broke out on Monday, has prompted firefighters to work continuously to control and extinguish the flames without requiring any evacuations as of yet. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as officials continue to assess the situation.