Investigators say fatal Maine lumber mill fire was accidental and
started in silo
[May 27, 2026]
By PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The fire and subsequent explosion at a Maine
lumber mill that killed a firefighter and injured a dozen other people
was accidental and originated at the base of a silo, authorities said
Tuesday.
The May 15 fire and explosion at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont killed
Andrew Cross, 27, of the Morrill Volunteer Fire Department. The injured
people include members of the family that runs the lumber mill and other
emergency responders. The fire sent plumes of black smoke into the sky
and required hundreds of firefighters from dozens of departments to
suppress it.
Rapid ignition of particulate material resulted in an explosion in the
silo that caused it to lift from its concrete base and release large
amounts of sawdust and other materials, the Maine State Fire Marshal's
Office said in a statement Tuesday. The silo then toppled and the
surrounding area became engulfed in fire, the office said.
Investigators will return to the facility in the coming months to
conduct a more detailed examination, the fire marshal's office said.
"Investigators also determined the facility’s fire suppression system,
which was located near the top of the silo, did not activate because
temperatures at that elevation did not reach the activation threshold
after the fire originated at the base of the silo," the office's
statement said.
Lumber mills are major sources of combustible dust. High winds during
the investigation delayed the investigation's findings, Maj. Aaron
Turcotte, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said
last week.
“High winds throughout the day created difficult working conditions on
scene, resulting in flying debris and periodic interruptions to
investigative operations. Drone operations and aerial photography were
particularly challenging due to the wind, causing delays in some scene
documentation,” Turcotte said in a statement.
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This photo provided by the Maine Department of Public Safety shows
flames from a large fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, Maine on
Friday, May 15, 2026 (Maine Department of Public Safety via AP)
The explosion in Searsmont, about 95 miles (150 kilometers)
northeast of Portland, triggered a massive response from emergency
responders to a rural part of the state. Investigators from the
state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives took up the investigation in the aftermath
of the explosion and fire, which took hours to contain.
Gov. Janet Mills later ordered flags in the state lowered to
half-staff last week in honor of Cross.
“My heart goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of Andrew
Cross,” Mills said. “He died a hero.”
Robbins Lumber’s website describes the company as a “high-tech
lumber manufacturer” that has been in existence since 1881 and
family-owned for five generations. Christian Halsted, a family
spokesperson, said after the fire that it was a “hugely devastating
day for the family” and that the family was cooperating with the
investigation.
Lumber and wood products are a critical and historic industry in
Maine. The Maine Forest Products Council said it contributed more
than $8 billion to the state’s economy in 2024 and provides about
29,000 jobs.
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