A 27-year-old firefighter was killed after an explosion erupted during efforts to contain a fire at a Maine lumber mill, as investigators on Sunday continued working to determine what caused the blast that injured at least 11 others.
The firefighter was identified as Andrew Cross of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, according to the
Maine State Fire Marshal and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Cross died Friday while responding to a fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, a community in Waldo County northeast of Portland.
On Saturday morning, Maine State Police assisted with the transport of Cross’s remains from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta to Riposta Funeral Home in Belfast.
The Maine State Police shared route details publicly ahead of the procession, which drew firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and local residents paying tribute along the route.
The explosion occurred shortly after 10 a.m. Friday after crews responded to reports of a fire inside one of the mill’s silos at Robbins Lumber, located at 506 Main St. in Searsmont, according to the
Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office.
“While firefighters were conducting fire suppression efforts, an explosion occurred,” the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Officials said multiple people suffered injuries and were taken to hospitals throughout the state. Maine Medical Center in Portland
said it received 10 patients following the explosion, while other injured individuals were transported to medical facilities across New England. Authorities said several victims remained in serious or critical condition over the weekend.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office said approximately two dozen fire departments and several state and federal agencies responded to the emergency. Firefighters later contained the blaze, though officials said suppression efforts continued into Friday evening.
Former Morrill Fire Chief Jethro Pease told the
Portland Press Herald that Cross joined the department during his tenure.
“He was a good, bright young man,” Pease said. “He’d do anything for anybody.”
Maine Gov. Janet Mills
said on social media Friday that she visited the scene and met with first responders and the Robbins family.
“For five generations, Robbins Lumber has been a cornerstone of the community and a mainstay of the forest products industry,” Mills wrote. “I told the Robbins family that Maine people will have their back as they face the challenge ahead.”
On Sunday, the Fire Marshal’s Office
announced that specialists from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Response Team had joined the investigation. Officials said the federal agency was assisting with forensic analysis, engineering support, computer modeling, and other technical resources as investigators work to determine the fire’s origin and the cause of the explosion.
Authorities said the scene is expected to remain secured throughout the week as the investigation continues.
