Press Herald reports Robbins Lumber fire aftermath
- Robbins Lumber’s May 15 fire and explosion in Searsmont left one firefighter dead and 12 others injured, with local accounts detailing the damage. - Captain Kevin Callahan told the Press Herald, “I thought everybody had died,” after a wood-shavings silo exploded and three fire trucks burned. - State and federal investigators are still examining the cause, while memorial events for Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross were scheduled for May 22-23.
The Portland Press Herald’s May 22 reconstruction of the Robbins Lumber disaster in Searsmont filled in how a mill fire on May 15 turned into a mass-casualty event that is still rippling through Midcoast Maine. The paper reported that volunteer firefighters from surrounding towns arrived expecting a difficult but familiar industrial fire, then faced a silo explosion that injured first responders, burned apparatus and killed Morrill firefighter Andrew Cross, 27. State and federal investigators remain at work on the cause, and several injured people were still hospitalized this week. The Press Herald’s account focused on the firefighters, mill workers and towns pulled into the response, not on any broader effect on lumber prices. ### How did the call at Robbins Lumber escalate so fast? The Press Herald reported that firefighters began converging on Robbins Lumber shortly after 10 a.m. on May 15 for what appeared to be a silo fire at the Searsmont mill. Captain Kevin Callahan of Appleton told the newspaper there was no sign at first that it would become an extraordinary call. (pressherald.com) A wood-shavings silo then exploded. The Press Herald quoted radio traffic reporting “multiple firefighters injured and burning,” and said debris, smoke and fire spread across crews operating near the structure. Callahan told the paper, “I thought everybody had died,” and said firefighters were dragged away from flames by other responders. ### Who was killed and how many people were hurt? (pressherald.com) Andrew Cross, a 27-year-old volunteer firefighter from Morrill, died after the explosion, according to Press Herald reporting published May 15 and May 19. Officials said 12 other people — including first responders and mill staff — were injured in the fire and blast. By May 17, 10 injured people were still hospitalized, the Press Herald reported. (pressherald.com) By May 19, eight remained hospitalized in Portland and Boston, and Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association updates identified injured firefighters, emergency personnel and mill employees receiving treatment at Maine Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital. (pressherald.com) ### Why did the aftermath spread beyond Searsmont? The May 22 Press Herald story said the event had a lasting effect on Midcoast towns and the wider firefighting community because nearly all of the first firefighters on scene were volunteers from neighboring departments. Some drove in from day jobs in their own vehicles before getting gear and apparatus into service. (pressherald.com) The Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association said Searsmont, Belmont and Appleton fire departments sustained damage to frontline apparatus during the incident, forcing mutual-aid partners to help maintain emergency coverage. The Press Herald also reported that community fundraising began almost immediately, with stores, towns and local groups collecting money and supplies for victims and families. (pressherald.com) ### What have investigators said about the cause? State Fire Marshal Shawn Esler said on May 19 that the investigation was “very active and complex,” according to the Press Herald. The newspaper said officials did not provide a timeline for completion and were still working through interviews and scene examination. Federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office by May 17. (mainefirechiefs.com) The Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association said investigators had conducted more than 50 interviews and were documenting the site, preserving evidence and examining similar mill systems as they worked to reconstruct the sequence of events. (pressherald.com) ### What comes next for the people and the mill? Robbins Lumber had not reopened as of May 19, the Press Herald reported, though the paper said the owners had stated they would rebuild. The Maine Fire Chiefs’ Association said some portions of the mill could continue operating safely without interfering with the investigation. (pressherald.com) On May 19, the Press Herald reported that Cross would be honored at a public visitation on Thursday, May 22, and a memorial service on Friday, May 23. Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office and ATF are continuing the joint examination at the Searsmont site. (pressherald.com)
