Federal report says firefighting tactics at Maine lumber mill explosion
aided the blast
[August 12, 2026]
By PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Firefighters who responded to a fire at a Maine
lumber mill used tactics that inadvertently contributed to a massive
explosion that killed three people, according to a report from federal
investigators.
The fire companies tried to extinguish the May 15 fire inside a silo at
the Robbins Lumber mill in rural Searsmont, Maine, by injecting it with
water — unaware of warnings from the manufacturer that doing so would be
dangerous.
The silo then blasted skyward like a rocket as flames and a shock wave
from the explosion hurled workers and firefighters away.
The firefighters didn’t know, the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health wrote this month, that the silo was oxygen-limiting, a
type of sealed structure that can become pressurized with combustible
gases during a fire.
That kind of buildup is a known hazard in oxygen-limited silos, and both
the manufacturer and fire safety organizations put out firefighting
guidance warning against putting water or foam into such chambers.
“The document warns against spraying water or foam into the
oxygen-limiting silo as it will force air in and may create a
potentially explosive mixture,” the report states. “The application of
water into the silo in this incident likely entrained oxygen into the
silo headspace, stirred up dust within the contents, and caused it to
become suspended in an explosive concentration.”
The report recommends that fire departments make sure firefighters
choose appropriate tactics for silo fires and never direct water or foam
into oxygen-limiting silos. It also states that more training is needed
for fire departments about the hazards associated with different types
of silos.
The blast also injured at least 13 people and the toppling of the silo
engulfed the surrounding area in fire, investigators have said. The
explosion took place in the small town about 95 miles (150 kilometers)
northeast of Portland and triggered a response of 299 firefighters from
46 departments across a four-county area. It took them hours to contain
the fire.
Representatives for Searsmont Fire & Rescue did not return phone calls
seeking comment Tuesday. The department's assistant fire chief, Wayne
Woodbury, 76, died from injuries suffered in the explosion. Andrew
Cross, 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department, also died. Alden
Robbins, the co-owner of the mill, died from injuries weeks later.
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In this photo provided by the Maine State Fire Marshal, flames burn
through Robbins Lumber following an explosion, May 15, 2026, in
Searsmont, Maine. (Maine State Fire Marshal via AP)
Robbins Lumber representatives said on the company's website that “no
report can fully capture the heartbreak experienced by our community,
nor can it lessen the tremendous loss suffered by so many.” The company
is working with industry experts to rebuild its facilities, the
statement said.
“Our objective is not simply to meet current industry standards, but to
exceed them. We are committed to learning from this event and to doing
everything we can to help prevent anything like this from happening
again,” the statement said.
The National Fire Protection Association declined to comment on the
report beyond saying it encourages firefighters to participate in the
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's work to improve
safety investigations. The Maine Department of Public Safety also
declined to comment.
Officials with the town of Searsmont said in a statement that a final
investigation into the explosion is still ongoing.
"As investigations move forward, we should allow the facts to guide any
conclusions. It is neither fair nor constructive to rush to judgment or
to diminish the dedication of the firefighters who responded or the
company that suffered such a devastating loss," the statement said.
The Maine State Fire Marshal's Office said in late May that rapid
ignition of particulate material resulted in the silo explosion, which
caused it to lift from its concrete base and release large amounts of
sawdust and other materials. It said the fire and explosion were
accidental.
The mill is a part of the historic lumber and wood products industry in
Maine. The company has said it is a high tech lumber manufacturer that
has been in existence since the 19th century.
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