Officials honor Conn. firefighter killed in UTV crash as crews battle brush fire in Berlin

Gov. Ned Lamont directed U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff in honor of a member of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and former member of the Hartford Fire Department who died in the line of duty while responding to a brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin on Tuesday.Robert Sharkevich Sr., a 66-year-old veteran firefighter, died on Tuesday after a UTV rolled over while he was helping battle a large brush fire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin, according to the Meriden Police Department.Meriden police determined the UTV was operating on a steep rocky incline as part of the firefighting efforts when it rolled over onto Sharkevich. Three other firemen were also injured in the rollover and were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, Meriden police said.After the Berlin Police Department determined the crash occurred in Meriden, the Meriden Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit in partnership with the Meriden Detective Division Evidence Identification unit took over the investigation with assistance from the Midstate Accident Reconstruction Unit.Lamont said Sharkevich had "selfless dedication to public service and the safety of his community.""I am very 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," Lamont said Tuesday.The Wethersfield Police Department planned to escort Sharkevich from the Connecticut Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday to the Farley Sullivan Funeral Home on 34 Beaver Road in Wethersfield.The procession will start at the OCME office at 11 Shuttle Road and will head onto Interstate 84 East to Interstate 91 South to the 5/15 South connector, off Exit 85, onto the Silas Deane Highway to Beaver Road."This is a tragic reminder of the sacrifice and risk that our professional and volunteer firefighters face day in and day out when they put on their uniforms," Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said in a statement. "Firefighter Sharkevich bravely answered the call to assist the area's fire crews in responding to this brush fire, and he will forever be remembered as a hero. My heart breaks for his loved ones and the members of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department, the Hartford Fire Department, and Connecticut's whole firefighting community. I am keeping each of them and their loved ones in my thoughts and prayers."Sharkevich was a veteran firefighter with over two decades of service to the Wethersfield community, the town said. The volunteer firefighter also worked as a carpenter and maintainer and was employed by Wethersfield Public Schools for the last four years."A devoted husband, father, grandfather and community volunteer, Robert E. Sharkevich Sr., made an incredible and lasting impact on the Town of Wethersfield. We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family, to the Wethersfield Fire Department and to all those touched by his loss," the town said in a statement.Sharkevich, known to many of his fellow firefighters as "Sharky," was a retired Hartford firefighter."Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sharkevich family, HFD family, the Wethersfield Fire Department, coworkers and the many friends of our Brother Robert Sharkevich, Sr. RIP Sharky," the Hartford Fire Department said in a statement.Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco said the entire department is united in their grief."Our hearts go out to the Sharkevich family and our brothers and sisters at the Wethersfield Fire Department during this incredibly difficult time. We stand united in our grief and extend our support to them as they navigate this profound loss."Officials from around the state also sent condolences as the news spread."As a state, we unite in mourning this tragic loss of a courageous first responder. We pray for the Wethersfield Fire Department. We pray for Wethersfield. We pray for all who knew, loved, and were protected by this dedicated firefighter. We also pray for the firefighters who are still in harm's way as they continue to fight this fire," the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus said in a statement."I am heartbroken for the entire Wethersfield Fire Department and the friends and family of the brave firefighter lost battling the Lamentation Mountain brush fire. My thoughts are with all of the courageous firefighters and first responders still working to control this fire through their grief," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said.On behalf of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes shared condolences with the family and friends of Sharkevichas well as with his fellow firefighters and first responders"Firefighters, police, and emergency responders do heroic work every day, putting themselves in harm's way to protect the people and the environment of our state," Dykes said. "I'm extremely grateful to, and have a tremendous respect for, people like Firefighter Sharkevich, who answer the call to keep us all safe."Around 100 firefighters continued to fight the large brush fire on Wednesday that started Monday night on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin. The fire is east of Sea Green Drive and Bannon Lane moving northeast at a slow rate of speed, according to the Berlin Fire Department.Lamont said the Connecticut National Guard has been called up to provide aerial support along with a fire crew from Maine."We have Maine deploying three helicopters that should be here this afternoon, they were a little delayed due to weather this morning," said Bill Turner, state emergency management director at a press conference Wednesday morning. "The Connecticut National Guard is deploying a Chinook and Blackhawk helicopter no later than tomorrow morning. Given the terrain issues, those aerial assets will be pivotal in helping get this fire under control."Despite the fire growing to around 125 acres, there is still no threat to buildings or people, and no evacuations have been made, according to Michael Kronick, a DEEP forest protection fire control officer. Kronick said about 30 DEEP firefighters trained to fight wildfires are on the scene assisting."The fire danger in Connecticut is extreme and with the red flag warning that gives me great pause," Kronick said. "Any spark is going to cause a fire, it is dry and it is windy. We've had several other wildfires across the state, and they are all going to be a challenge today."Kronick said that they are bracing for the fire to possibly grow larger as wind gusts are expected to impact the state."We have a box around the fire, but the weather today will test that," Kronick said Wednesday. "We're in western United States territory dry right now and this is going to be a long haul. My understanding is there is no rain in the 10-day forecast."Additional resources have been called in from Newington, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Cromwell and Meriden. Crews said they expect the fire to be "prolonged," and that it will take multiple days to contain.Eversource said they are closely monitoring electric transmission lines and equipment in the vicinity. To assess any possible damage, the energy company said they are conducting ongoing aerial surveys on three of its high-voltage power lines located approximately a mile and a half from where it is believed the fire originated."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 Steve Sullivan, Eversource president of electric operations in Connecticut. "We have plans in place to quickly redirect power to other lines to minimize any disruption to our customers and we're maintaining close communication with the Governor's office, DEEP and local partners at Berlin fire and police regarding the fire and any potential impact it could have on the electric system. Our team on the ground is also ready to assist emergency responders in any way we can."