The fire and explosion that killed a volunteer firefighter and injured a dozen other people at a midcoast Maine lumber mill earlier this month was accidental and started at the base of a silo, the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office said Tuesday. The May 15 disaster at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont claimed the life of Andrew Cross, 27, a member of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, and sent 12 people to hospitals, including family members who run the mill and other emergency responders.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire originated at the base of a silo and that a rapid ignition of particulate material — dust and fine wood particles accumulated inside the structure — triggered an explosion. The blast lifted the silo off its concrete foundation, toppled it, and released a large volume of sawdust and debris that ignited, engulfing the surrounding area.
The blaze sent thick black smoke over Waldo County and required a massive mutual-aid response. Hundreds of firefighters from dozens of departments worked to bring the fire under control, authorities said at the time.
The determination comes nearly two weeks after the fire and closes the cause investigation. The Fire Marshal’s Office did not identify a specific source of ignition but described the explosion as an accidental, combustible-dust event — a hazard well known in wood-processing industries.