One year later, fallen firefighter’s death leads to statewide safety changes

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WFSB) - Wednesday marks one year since volunteer firefighter Robert Sharkevich was killed in the line of duty while battling a massive brushfire.

Sharkevich, known as “Sharkey” to his friends, was killed while battling a massive brushfire in Berlin in a UTV rollover .

The Wethersfield firefighter dedicated his life to public service.

The Connecticut Fire Academy now offers UTV training courses to every firefighter in the state.

A mural honoring Sharkevich was painted on Greenfield Street in Wethersfield.

His name was also recently added to a memorial in Berlin.

“It’s overwhelming, it really is overwhelming to know that even a year later, he’s still being thought about, he’s still being memorialized,” said Karen Letizio, Sharkevich’s sister.

Letizio said her