BERLIN, Conn. – Fire Weather Warnings have been issued for the entire state of Connecticut as concerns grow that wildfires that ignite could rapidly spread due to dry conditions that have been plaguing the region since September.
This news comes as flags across the state were ordered to half-staff in honor of a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty while working to extinguish the Hawthorne Fire, which has so far burned about 125 acres.
Police in the Connecticut city of Meriden said 66-year-old Robert Sharkevich, a retired firefighter from Hartford, was killed when the utility task vehicle (UTV) he was on rolled over while on steep, rocky terrain.
Three other firefighters were injured.
“I am heartbroken to learn the news of the tragic loss of Firefighter Sharkevich, who died while bravely and courageously responding to the brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. “His selfless dedication to public service and the safety of his community and the surrounding towns is nothing less than heroic.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Hawthorne Fire has burned more than 125 acres. Windy, warm and dry conditions are expected to fuel continued growth.
Firefighters across the Northeast have been busy working to extinguish wildfires that erupted in Connecticut and New Jersey over the past several days as abnormally dry conditions persist in the region.
The FOX Forecast Center said dry brush is largely to blame for allowing the fires to spread. However, winds and low relative humidity are also helping to fuel the flames.
FOX Weather Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari is reporting from the Hawthorne Fire command center in Berlin.
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“It’s so dry. The grass feels like hay right now, and it’s very, very crispy ground. It hasn’t rained here in a really long time,” he said. “It’s just a tinderbox.”
While Sarsalari said the fall foliage on the drive was beautiful, it’s contributing to the extreme fire weather, as falling, dry leaves add new fuel to the ground.
A cold front moving into the area overnight into Thursday won’t help firefighting efforts.
“Unfortunately, it’s going to be a dry cold front,” Sarsalari said. “Even if we do get any rain squeezed out of it, it’s so dry here in the lower levels of the atmosphere that even if there is anything, it would just evaporate before it hits the ground.”
Officials said air assets from the Connecticut National Guard and the state of Maine are also on the scene assisting with fire suppression efforts from above, using water from Silver Lake to drop on the fire.
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Connecticut utility provider Eversource said the brush fire is burning near transmission lines and the company launched drones to monitor the equipment.
“This large brush fire is in close proximity to our transmission lines, which are the backbone of the regional electric grid, and with winds expected to pick up, we’re not taking any chances,” said Eversource President of Electric Operations in Connecticut Steve Sullivan.
According to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department, a large wildfire erupted on the west side of Lamentation Mountain just before 6 p.m. ET on Monday. When the fire was reported, officials said resources from the town of Berlin, as well as the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Wildfire Division, arrived at the scene to begin working on extinguishing the fire.
Fire operations were limited, however, during the evening and overnight hours due to the steep and rocky terrain in the area. Lamentation Mountain is more than 700 feet tall, and the steep terrain contributed to the death of the firefighter. A crew was going up the mountain in a utility vehicle when it toppled over onto the firefighter.
Officials said there has been no damage to homes, and resources have been in place to protect structures near the fire. In addition, no evacuations have been ordered in the area.
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The National Weather Service issued Fire Weather Warnings for the entire state of Connecticut because of the fire threat.
The NWS said a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels would create a “significantly elevated fire growth potential,” and fires could rapidly spread if one erupts.
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Wildfires have also been reported farther south along the heavily traveled Interstate 95 corridor in New Jersey.
“I think the only thing that’s on our side is that the winds have been in check. That would be a game changer,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin said. “Think about how many people live up and down the 95 corridor. It’s the busiest stretch in terms of population density in our entire country.”
A video recorded in Rockaway Township, about 45 minutes from New York City, shows flames burning through the dry landscape as first responders work to extinguish the blaze.
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Microwave Wildfire in Morris County, which started over the weekend, is about 77 acres in size and is 85% contained. Fire officials said at least three structures have been threatened, but no evacuations have been ordered.
The cause of that fire is under investigation.
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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued a Drought Watch on Thursday and urged residents and businesses to conserve water as the dry conditions persisted.
In a news release, officials said the state of New Jersey has experienced “significantly below-average rainfall, which has contributed to diminished streamflow, reservoir and groundwater levels” over the past three months.
Officials said the declaration of a Drought Watch was intended to increase the public’s awareness of the ongoing drought situation.
“While water conservation is always important, it becomes critical during prolonged dry periods such as New Jersey has been experiencing for much of the summer and into early fall,” Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said in the statement. “Voluntary water conservation now can help to avoid more serious and restrictive measures in the future.”
