NEWINGTON, Conn. — The Hawthorne Fire in Berlin is still burning as Connecticut remains in a state of emergency due to dry conditions.
The fire, sparked by a campfire, has charred over 120 acres of Lamentation Mountain, and crews remain battling the blaze by land and air.
Berlin Fire Chief John Massirio said Tuesday was a "good day" on the mountain because no injuries were reported. The weather was also good on Monday for firefighters to continue their work. However, while 30% of the fire has been put out due to the lack of rain, there is still a concern.
The area's temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to upper 70s from Wednesday through Friday, inching close to 80 degrees.
"The upcoming temperatures are going to be our next test," Massirio said. "If we can hold these next few days, we might be in good shape."
Some morning showers are expected on Friday, but there's still not enough rain to help lift the state out of the fire danger.
"There are still, even on cool days, several fires occurring, and they're going to continue to occur until we get a decent amount of rain," said Thomas Trask, the forest protection supervisor for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Due to the fire danger across the state, DEEP has implemented a statewide burn ban on public lands under their administration. They said it's essential for everyone to be mindful and not burn anything outdoors, park cars on the grass, or even flip a cigarette out the window. They also recommend that people shift from using real candles to battery-operated ones for Halloween.
“It’s really important to keep in mind we’re closing in on the end of October, and when you look at the month of September and October, it is the dryest period we’ve ever seen in recorded history in Connecticut,” said Josh Cingranelli from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday that everyone needs to "do what you can to protect your community."
National Guard Major General Francis Evon, Jr., said that as of Monday, the guard had dropped over 240,000 gallons of water, and helicopters from Maine continued to assist.
Held on Monday were the funeral services for fallen Wethersfield volunteer firefighter Robert Sharkevich, Sr., who was killed in a UTV crash up on the mountain last week.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
Kaye Paddyfote is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at kpaddyfote@fox61.com. Follow her on X and Instagram.
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