SEARSMONT, Maine – State and federal investigators are continuing to treat the deadly fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont as an active and complex investigation, as crews work to safely clear debris from the damaged mill site.
Maine State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that heavy machinery and cranes are being used to remove what remains of a collapsed storage silo so investigators can safely examine the debris underneath.
The initial fire on May 15, 2026, reportedly began in a wood shavings packaging area before spreading to a nearby dust-filled silo, triggering a massive explosion that killed one firefighter and injured 12 others.
Portions of the mill have since safely resumed limited operations while the joint state and federal investigation into the precise origin and cause of the fire and explosion remains ongoing.
One Firefighter Killed, 12 Injured
Officials from the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office have identified all 12 people injured in the disaster, along with the single fatality.
Andrew Cross, a 27-year-old volunteer firefighter with the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, was killed in the line of duty during the response.
Three people remain in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. They include Robbins Lumber owners Alden Robbins and James Robbins, as well as Searsmont EMS member Liliane Robbins.
Five others are being treated at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Those hospitalized include Searsmont EMS Chief Sarah Tompkins, Searsmont Assistant Chief Wayne Woodbury, and Belmont/Northport firefighter Katherine Paige, who is breathing with the assistance of a ventilator ahead of upcoming surgeries.
Four of the 12 injured individuals have been treated and released to recover at home.
Massive Emergency Response Strained Local Departments
The emergency response required a major regional deployment and placed a heavy burden on local volunteer fire and rescue infrastructure.
Within the first 48 hours, 299 firefighters from 46 regional departments responded to the scene.
The blast also caused severe structural damage to primary emergency response fire trucks belonging to the Searsmont, Belmont, and Appleton fire departments.
Regional mutual aid partners and nearby towns are now lending emergency vehicles to ensure fire and rescue coverage remains in place for the affected communities while local leaders work through insurance and replacement options.
The investigation remains ongoing.
A Maine EMT saying: “Bad things can happen to good people” The Robbins are good people and they run an organized mill, one of the cleanest that I, as a contractor, have ever been in in Maine. Burn injuries are serious and painful, especially for we older people.