Random Ramblings: Aerial Wildland Firefighting

I have blogged about aerial wildland firefighting since 2009. I am not a firefighter and am not a pilot, just an interested bystander who wants to learn more and share what I learn here. Join me here as I blog on the aircraft and the pilots who fight wildland fires from the air in support of crews on the ground. I also blog on concerns affecting fire crews on the ground as well as other aviation and meteorology issues. Learn what it takes to do jobs that are staffed by the best of the best.

Friday, October 25, 2024

2024 Wildfire Season: Connecticut

Thanks to my friends at the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who do an excellent job providing important updates to the current wildfire situation in New Jersey. Among other things they post critical updates on wildfire danger from the National Weather Service at Mt. Holly NJ, see Mt Holly's fire weather forecast for today, October 25th as we in NJ remain at an increased risk of wildfire danger.

While I have been focusing on the high wildfire danger in New Jersey over the last few days, I have been aware of wildfire concerns in other parts of the country, including but not limited the mid-atlantic and the northeastern United States. Thanks again to my friends from the B10 NJ Wildland Fire Page who post videos every day focusing on wildfire concerns around the United States (including New Jersey) and internationally. In looking at the videos they have posted recently I became aware of the high fire danger in Connecticut and wildfires burning in Connecticut. Today, I am here to share a couple of videos about a wildfire, the Hawthorne Fire, that has been burning in Berlin, Connecticut. The fire is on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin and is difficult to access. I have tried to find specific information, e.g. fire size and containment information, but so far have not been able to find a page to refer you to. However, I do know from this report from the NBC CT Weather Blog (updated October 25th at 7:10 AM) that the fire is reported to have burned 107 acres.

Unfortunately, one wildland firefighter has died in a rollover incident a couple of days ago. Wildland firefighters in the same vehicle were injured and have since been released from the hospital. Aerial resources have been deployed to work the Hawthorne Fire, included helicopters from the Connecticut National Guard.

1. Hawthorne Fire in Berlin continues to burn