A firefighter has died and at least 11 people were injured following a fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine. The victim, Andrew Cross, 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, was found dead at the scene, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The incident began around 10:05 a.m. on Friday when crews responded to a fire in a silo at the historic mill. While firefighters were working to contain it, an explosion occurred, spreading the blaze to multiple buildings across the site. Two dozen fire departments responded, and the fire was contained by Friday evening, though suppression efforts continued.
Ten patients were transferred to MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, a Level 1 trauma centre 95 miles away, with one additional patient in critical condition at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Authorities confirmed that those injured include firefighters and civilians, all in serious or critical condition. No mill employees were hurt, but several fire trucks were damaged or destroyed.
A memorial of flowers was placed outside the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department in honour of Cross. On Saturday, first responders and community members lined the roads as his remains were escorted from Augusta to a funeral home in Belfast, passing through Morrill for residents to pay their respects.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. Christian Halsted, a family spokesperson for Robbins Lumber, described the day as “hugely devastating” and confirmed the mill will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The family is cooperating with investigators.
Robbins Lumber, a family-owned business since 1881, is a high-tech lumber manufacturer. The incident highlights Maine’s reliance on the lumber industry, which contributed over $8 billion to the state’s economy in 2024 and supports around 29,000 jobs, according to the Maine Forest Products Council.
