Berlin

Day 10 of the Hawthorne Fire in Berlin consisted of crews keeping control lines in place. Officials say the recent rain made little difference and a firefighter needed to be checked out for a heat-related injury.

Jeff Pechachek with the Columbia Basin Job Corps has a crew in from Washington state. They are 18 to 25 year olds described as having never completed formal schooling, or come from low-income backgrounds. They’re choosing to learn fire skills on top of earning a GED and learning a trade.

Crews continue to make progress on brush fires across the state. Officials from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are reporting at least 70 being monitored or actively fought around Connecticut. The largest is still the Hawthorne fire in Berlin. An update from crews indicated more progress Wednesday but still with cautious optimism. A firefighter was taken to the…

Fire crews showed off some of the steep terrain they have been dealing with and detailed new issues they are facing while continuing to fight the Hawthorne fire in Berlin.

The fire fight going on around the Hawthorne Fire for almost nine days continues. It has swallowed over 120 acres as crews make progress on containment and extinguishing the brush fire. Across the state, because of abnormally dry conditions, brush fires continue to pop up. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is now reporting over 70 they are either…

The Hawthorne Fire in Berlin has now been burning for nine days – scorching well over 100 acres – and crews continue to work on containment. Firefighters have come in from as far away as Oregon and Washington state.

Right now, the state is tracking about 50 fires and the largest is the Hawthorne Fire in Berlin. Six firefighters have been hurt, including Robert Sharkevich, Sr., who died when a utility vehicle rolled over last week.

Right now, the state is tracking about 50 fires and the largest is the Hawthorne Fire in Berlin. Six firefighters have been hurt, including Robert Sharkevich, Sr., who died when a utility vehicle rolled over last week. “I just want to take another moment to recognize the family of Robert Sharkevich and friends as well as they go through their…

Gary Sharkevich, Jr. recalled the moment he and his cousin heard the call that there had been an accident at the Berlin brush fire involving Robert Sharkevich, Sr.

Two firefighters were injured while they were helping battle the Hawthorne Fire over the weekend and the fire is continuing to burn for an eighth day. 

Two firefighters were injured while they were helping battle the Hawthorne Fire over the weekend and the fire is continuing to burn for an eighth day. Loved ones and first responders came together on Monday to lay a fallen Wethersfield firefighter to rest. Berlin’s fire chief said the weather conditions on Sunday improved with the winds dying down. It...

A statewide burn ban is in effect in Connecticut as crews continue battling the Hawthorne Fire. A state of emergency has also been declared due to critical fire weather conditions.

The wind conditions on Sunday are helping the crews battling the Hawthorne Fire as it burns for a seventh day. A statewide burn ban also remains in effect. On Sunday, Berlin fire officials said overnight, the wind died down and it is giving firefighters some relief to work a little better. The wind conditions are expected to remain lower so…

Fire officials said hot ash from an abandoned campfire is likely what sparked a massive brush fire that started in Berlin on Monday night.

Fire officials said hot ash from an abandoned campfire is likely what sparked a massive brush fire that started in Berlin on Monday night. Firefighters continue to work around the clock to battle the Hawthorne Fire for a fifth day. A state of emergency has been declared due to critical fire weather conditions. A red flag warning has been issued…

Firefighters continue to work around the clock to battle the Hawthorne Fire, the brush fire that started in Berlin on Monday night, for a fifth day and a state of emergency has been declared due to critical fire weather conditions.

An outpouring of support has come from all corners of Connecticut for Wethersfield fallen firefighter Robert Sharkevich Sr. In Cheshire, a young woman is selling t-shirts to help raise money for his family. It’s not the first time she is giving back to loved ones of first responders. “It is unbelievable what these guys are doing, really is something...

Firefighters continue to work around the clock to battle the Hawthorne Fire, the brush fire that started in Berlin on Monday night, for a fifth day and the flight restriction that has been in place is expanding Friday morning.

Fire officials said hot ash from an abandoned campfire is likely what sparked a massive brush fire that started in Berlin on Monday night. Firefighters continue to work around the clock to battle the Hawthorne Fire for a fifth day. A state of emergency has been declared due to critical fire weather conditions. A red flag warning has been issued…