By Olivia Drake, HVFC Public Information Officer
(November 6, 2024) — Members of Haddam Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank sisters Hayleigh and Ava DiPerla of Haddam for the heartwarming gift basket, drawing, and card they presented to us following the death of Wethersfield Firefighter Robert Sharkevich, Sr.
Firefighter Sharkevich was killed October 22, 2024 while fighting a massive brush fire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin. Haddam firefighters, who also worked to extinguish the fire in Berlin for thirteen hours, were in the area when Firefighter Sharkevich died in a UTV accident.
Hayleigh herself wants to be a firefighter. When she was five years old and living in Deep River, she was struck by a vehicle after getting off the bus. Although she wasn’t injured, she recalls the multiple volunteer firefighters from Deep River Fire Department who responded and gave Hayleigh and Ava stuffed animals before going away in the ambulance. To this day, she is grateful for fire and EMS personnel.
And we’re grateful for your gift, Hayleigh! We hope you’ll consider joining the HVFC Junior Division when you’re 14!
Photos provided by HVFC
