Timeline of Investigation Into Mill Explosion that Killed Firefighter, Injured 12
Investigators have conducted more than 50 interviews as state and federal teams work to determine what sparked the blaze.
- On Wednesday, investigators plan to use large cranes at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont to remove silo remains, continuing the probe into the May 15 explosion that killed one firefighter and injured 12 others.
- According to mill officials, the fire began in an area where wood shavings are bagged and spread to the silo, which soon exploded; 46 fire departments sent 299 firefighters to the scene over 48 hours.
- Federal and state investigators have conducted more than 150 interviews while utilizing heavy equipment to move structural debris, with more than 45 officials remaining on site to process the scene methodically.
- A memorial service for Andrew Cross, the 27-year-old Morrill firefighter killed in the incident, is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m.; eight injured remained hospitalized in Boston and Portland as of Monday.
- Experts consider the 145-year-old Robbins Lumber facility a 'target hazard' that often prompts specialized firefighter training; while the company is cooperating, officials have provided no timeline for releasing final investigation results.
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11 Articles
Firefighter killed, several injured in Maine lumber mill explosion
A fire and explosion at a lumber mill in Maine killed a volunteer firefighter and left several others in critical condition, according to state fire officials and local media reports. The fire was first reported at about 10:05 a.m. on Friday at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, where firefighters were working to put out a fire in a silo when the explosion happened, according to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office. Morrill Volunteer firefighter Andr…
Timeline of investigation into mill explosion that killed firefighter, injured 12
The chief investigator for the Maine State Fire Marshal's Office shared an overview of the operations investigators conducted in the first several days following the May 15 explosion and fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont.
Explosion and fire investigation at Searsmont lumber mill could last a few more days
We’re fundraising to support the newsroom this spring. But on this page let’s take a break. Here are some efforts raising funds to support victims of the Searsmont fire. We hope you’ll consider a gift to support the families. Investigators are still sifting through the debris at the Robbins Lumber yard in Searsmont trying to pinpoint the cause of the fire and explosion on Friday that killed one firefighter and injured at least a dozen other peop…
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