Emergency crews in Berlin, Connecticut are urging people to stay out of the air and away from a persistent brush fire on Lamentation Mountain. The fire started on Monday evening and crews have been working to control and extinguish it since then. Despite a Temporary Flight Restriction over the area, hikers, quads, and private drones and aircrafts have been interrupting operations, causing delays. Berlin Fire Chief John Massirio expressed frustration at the interruptions, stating that they are hampering efforts to bring the fire under control in a timely manner.
On Thursday, Connecticut National Guard helicopters dropped 101,000 gallons of water on the fire, with air operations expected to continue into the weekend. Crews from Rhode Island and New Hampshire are also assisting in firefighting efforts. The fire is currently estimated to be about 107 acres in size, with crews constantly evaluating and remapping the zone. The goal is to gain good control of the fire before conditions heat up next weekend.
Bulldozer crews are clearing old truck roads to allow water tankers to access the mountain top and get closer to the fire. Areas such as Lamentation Mountain State Park, Giuffrida Park, and Silver Lake are closed to the public. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. State Emergency Management Director William Turner announced that funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been approved to help cover the costs of operations, which are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars so far.
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