SEARSMONT, Maine – A firefighter was killed and multiple people were injured Friday morning after an explosion occurred during fire suppression efforts at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.
According to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office, multiple fire departments responded at approximately 10:05 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, to a reported fire in one of the silos at Robbins Lumber, located at 506 Main Street.
The Searsmont Fire Department was the first agency to respond, with numerous mutual aid departments assisting at the scene. When firefighters arrived, they found a fire inside the silo at the mill.
While crews were working to suppress the fire, an explosion occurred.
Multiple individuals were injured and transported to hospitals throughout the state. Several are reported to be in serious and critical condition.
One firefighter was found dead at the scene. The firefighter will be transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta, where an autopsy will be performed and positive identification confirmed.
Investigators are still working to notify families and confirm information related to those who were injured. Additional information about the injured will be released when appropriate.
Fire departments have contained the fire, though suppression efforts remain ongoing.
The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. Due to the complexity of the scene, officials said the investigation is expected to take time.
Assisting agencies included the Albion, Appleton, Belmont, Camden, Freedom, Hermon, Hope, Jackson,Liberty, Lincolnville, Montville, Morrill, Northport, Palermo, Prospect, Searsmont, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Thorndike, Union, Unity, Waldo, Warren, West Frankfort, and Whitefield fire departments, along with the Maine Forest Rangers, Maine State Police, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, ATF and OSHA.
