A firefighter was killed and at least 11 other people were injured Friday when a massive fire and explosion swept through the Robbins Lumber mill in Searsmont, a rural midcoast Maine town of about 1,500 people roughly 95 miles from Portland, authorities said.
The firefighter was part of a large emergency response to the blaze and was found dead at the mill after a silo exploded, state officials said. The investigation into the cause may not yield answers quickly, Maine Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said.
MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, which has a Level 1 trauma designation, said it was treating 10 patients who were transferred from local hospitals. A spokesperson for Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor said the facility was treating one patient in critical condition.
Emergency responders from across Waldo County converged on the scene as fire departments worked for hours to contain the flames. Waldo County 911 Director Mike Larrivee said, “We have dumped all of the resources from the whole county over to that area.”
Robbins Lumber, which describes itself on its website as a “high-tech lumber manufacturer,” has been in operation since 1881 and has been family-owned for five generations. Christian Halsted, a family spokesperson, called the fire a “hugely devastating day for the family” and said the mill will not be operating in the near future. The family was cooperating with authorities on the investigation, he said.
Gov. Janet Mills said on the social platform X that she was monitoring the response. “I urge folks to stay clear of the area, follow the instructions of law enforcement, and allow emergency personnel to respond,” Mills said. “I ask Maine people to join me in keeping all those affected in their thoughts.”
Lumber and wood products are a critical and historic industry in Maine. The Maine Forest Products Council reported that the sector contributed more than $8 billion to the state’s economy in 2024 and provides about 29,000 jobs.