An explosion and large fire at a Searsmont lumber mill killed one and injured at least 10 people, including firefighters and civilians, authorities said, and drew a massive emergency response Friday.
Multiple firefighters suffered significant burns after their equipment caught on fire after a silo exploded at the mill, according to officials at the Kennebunk Fire Department. Civilians were also injured, according to the Thorndike Fire Department.
A spokesperson for Maine Medical Center in Portland said 10 patients who had been injured in the incident were being transferred to the emergency department after initial treatment at hospitals in Belfast and Rockport. Victims had also been treated at hospitals in Augusta and Bangor before being transferred to other facilities, spokespeople said.
Department of Public Safety Director Michael Sauschuck said at a brief news conference that it’s been a “very traumatic afternoon.” He said he was unable to share more details or take questions at this point.
Huge plumes of smoke were visible for miles around the Waldo County town. Crews from across Midcoast Maine were dispatched to the scene at Robbins Lumber, located at 506 Main St. S, just to the south of the village center.
Read our live updates below.
As the unidentified firefighter’s remains were taken to the medical examiner’s office, first responders including firefighters from departments across the state, Maine State Police, Forest Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies lined the driveway.
“I told the Robbins family that Maine people will have their back as they face the challenge ahead,” Mills said. “I ask Maine people to keep the Robbins family, their employees, first responders, and the people of Searsmont and Waldo County in their thoughts and prayers.”
The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy on the deceased firefighter and confirm their identity.
Asked how many additional injuries had occurred, the man responds: “We have 10 to 12 more. A lot of people with third-degree. Explosion! Multiple fire trucks are burning.”
The man, whose voice was rushed and distressed, went quiet as other responders told dispatchers they were headed to the scene.
The fire and explosion in Waldo County sent ripple effects beyond state lines as well. Fire departments from surrounding states, including Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York, also chimed in with words of support on social media.
“The fire service is one family, and when one department hurts, we all feel it,” the Orleans, Vermont Fire Department stated. “We stand with our brothers and sisters in Maine during this incredibly difficult time and extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected.”
The Central Valley Fire Fighters Association, representing numerous fire departments in New Brunswick, Canada, also shared their condolences to those impacted on Friday.
“Firefighters and emergency crews put everything on the line for us, and today is a painful reminder of the sacrifices they make,” Pingree said. “I’m grateful to the medical teams, mutual aid departments, and volunteers supporting the response and recovery efforts.”
Maine Forest Rangers, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Maine State Police, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, ATF and OSHA also assisted, Moss said.
American Red Cross lends support on scene
American Red Cross Northern New England said in a Facebook post that its disaster action team has mobilized in response to the Searsmont fire following a request for assistance. The organization said 10 trained disaster responders were on the scene.
“The Red Cross is serving in a support capacity, ensuring firefighters and first responders have what they need to continue fighting the fire,” the post stated. “We are providing water, snacks and comfort items like blankets and cots. The Red Cross is in close communication with local emergency management — and we stand ready to assist the community. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this fire and to the brave first responders on the scene.”
Flames continue subsiding
The plume of smoke rising from Robbins Lumber continues to shrink as firefighters battle the blaze. What was once a thick column of black smoke is now smaller, grayer, and mostly transparent.
Large flames that were visible through the woods surrounding the mill appeared mostly knocked down by 5:15 p.m. as fire trucks continued streaming up and down the roads surrounding the mill with their lights and sirens blazing.
Smoke plume shrinking again, but flames still visible
SEARSMONT — The plume of smoke coming from Robbins Lumber began to shrink again around 4:30 p.m., with little black smoke visible. But large flames could still be seen through the trees from where a reporter was perched.
“They’re a really well-run company,” he said. “They’ve been a part of Midcoast Maine’s forest industry since forever.”
Robbins Lumber is one of the biggest white pine mills in the country and, according to a 2024 MaineBiz story, employs about 225 people. In 2011, the governor’s office heralded the Robbinses for their forest stewardship, awarding them a Maine Department of Conservation award. The department’s commissioner called them “an iconic Maine family.”
In 2024, another fire at the company’s facility took place in a control room for the kilns, according to multiple news reports. It was contained and didn’t result in any injuries. The PenBay Pilot reported that the Searsport Fire Department had a roster of 14 volunteers, many of whom were out in the woods hunting when the call came in and returned to Robbins Lumber to respond.
Robbins Lumber has had one workplace safety incident investigated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the past decade. It happened in 2025, and the company was fined $5,427. The details of the incident are not immediately clear, but according to OSHA records, it appeared to involve a lack of regular inspections of procedures in the planer facility.
Victim treated in Bangor being transferred, spokesperson says
A victim of the Searsmont incident who was taken to Bangor’s Eastern Maine Medical Center in critical condition Friday has been transferred to another facility, spokesperson Chris Facchini said in a written statement.
Facchini did not say where the victim was taken or what their condition was, but he said the hospital does not anticipate receiving any more patients from Searsmont.
“This is obviously a hugely devastating day for the family,” he said. “We feel for the first responders, family, the employees.”
The fire was first reported at 10:05 a.m., Esler said. Most of the firefighters responding were volunteers from across Waldo County.
Michael Sauschuck, director of the state’s Department of Public Safety, confirmed that several first responders were injured in the fire. Sauschuck did not confirm how many people were hurt or what their conditions are; he said it was too early for officials to share details or take questions.
Sauschuck said it had been a “very traumatic afternoon.”
Friday’s rain helped contain the risk of the fire spreading into the area forests and limited the plume’s impact on local air quality, Palmer said. The weather is already changing in Searsmont, however, with Saturday’s forecast featuring dry weather and as much as 15 degrees warmer.
“The rain was definitely a good thing — while it lasted,” Palmer said.
Patients being taken to Maine’s only comprehensive burn care facility
Maine Medical Center in Portland is the only comprehensive burn care facility in Maine and northern New Hampshire. At least 10 victims of the explosion were being transported to the hospital, a spokesperson said earlier Friday.
Quiet outside Pen Bay Hospital
ROCKPORT — As of 3:20 p.m., activity had quieted outside Pen Bay Hospital’s emergency wing, where several patients were treated in the immediate aftermath of the explosion.
Those patients are now being transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland.
“My heart goes out to them, their employees, and the first responders who have come from all over the region to help in the emergency response,” Collins said. “This is a very sad crisis, and all those affected are in my prayers.”
Smoke thickening, changing color; more explosions have been heard
SEARSMONT — After having slowed somewhat earlier in the afternoon, the plume of smoke billowing from the scene Friday was thickening and had gotten lighter by about 3:15 p.m.
Several ladder trucks were spraying the flames. A photographer on scene said he had heard several more explosions since arriving.
Liberty Fire Department asks for prayers
“Please just pray!!!!” the Liberty Fire & Rescue Department posted to Facebook on Friday, sharing a photo of the massive plume of black smoke.
“A lot of us have friends and family (at the mill),” said Ashley Cook, who came with a pickup truck filled with bottled water. “And if we don’t, we all know someone who is.”
Smoke plume shrinking
SEARSMONT — The thick black column of smoke rising from the mill was visibly much smaller by just after 2 p.m. than it did an hour prior.
Even through the ceiling of gray storm clouds, the smoke had been visible from miles away around noontime.
“Multiple maydays have been called, and units from across the state are either responding or already on scene assisting with operations,” the department said.
They encouraged locals to stay clear of the area and surrounding roadways to allow emergency personnel to work efficiently.
Anyone in need of support is encouraged to contact Assistant Superintendent Jessica Giorgetti at 207-338-1960 or [email protected].
1 person treated for burns at Augusta hospital, then transferred
MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta “has received one patient with burns who was treated and transferred to a higher level of care. We do not expect any more patients related to this incident,” said hospital spokesperson Joy McKenna.
McKenna confirmed that the patient was transferred to another hospital but declined to say which, citing federal confidentiality laws.
A handful of Waldo County sheriff’s deputies and volunteer firefighters bought pizzas from the store to deliver to first responders at the scene, Boyington said.
Some of those who came to make donations hung around in the store’s parking lot to watch the stream of fire trucks whizzing up and down Main Street.
“It’s just awful,” Searsmont resident Winston Durkee said from in front of the store. “(The mill) is such a huge part of this community. We all want to support them however we can.”
1 in critical condition at Bangor hospital, spokesperson says
Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is reporting one patient in critical condition from the Searsmont incident, according to hospital spokesperson Chris Facchini.
A fire chaplain can be requested by calling 207-329-2273 or sending a message to [email protected].
“It’s a big part of this community,” she said. “We saw all the smoke and immediately knew this was bad.”
Report: Silo filled with wood shavings exploded, hurting multiple people
According to the Midcoast Villager, people on scene reported that a silo filled with wood shavings exploded after 11 a.m., leaving multiple people with injuries. It wasn’t clear how many people might be hurt.
Local authorities have not confirmed any information about the fire.
Firefighters refill at Bartlett Stream
SEARSMONT — About a half-dozen fire trucks are filling their tanks with water from Bartlett Stream near the town center. They’re driving down from the mill and heading back to the scene as soon as they’re topped off.
“There’s some water (at the mill), but it’s such a large response that it’s not enough to support all the firefighting efforts,” Prospect firefighter Mike Drinkwater said from beside his truck.
Smith has been standing in his truck bed for an hour and a half, and the flames have not died down, he said.
“It’s really not good,” Smith said.
In 2017, the offices of the lumber mill were used as a Senate hearing room as King ran an Energy Committee field hearing on how rural industries could be strengthened by energy technology developments.
At the time, the Robbins family was in the process of installing a $36 million, 8.5 megawatt combined heat and power unit. King said at the time that the project was a model for rural industries attempting to lower power costs.
The department said it would not be issuing burn permits Friday or Saturday as a result of its help with the response.
Steam heated up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit is used to drive a turbine, according to the Robbins website. A portion of the steam is removed and used to dry lumber. Additionally, in the winter months, steam is used to heat the buildings throughout the Searsmont campus.
“I ask locals to follow law enforcement instructions, and to look to official channels and trusted sources for more information as it becomes available,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, asked people to keep the Searsmont community and first responders in their thoughts.
Smoke visible for miles around
The thick black plume of smoke from the fire was visible from miles away early Friday afternoon, even through the low gray clouds lingering in the air.
Rain had been falling heavily but has now slowed to a drizzle.
Large stretch of State Route 131 closed in Searsmont
SEARSMONT — Maine State Police have blocked off State Route 131 between Appleton Ridge Road and Camden Road while crews fight the fire nearby.
Heavy black smoke could be seen rising from the site, located just south of the heart of the village, just before 1 p.m.
Augusta emergency crews on the way
Augusta fire Chief Dave Groder confirmed that emergency crews from the city arrived in Searsmont to find multiple ambulances and one patient who was already being treated for injuries at the scene.
He said the Augusta Fire Department sent one ambulance and one command vehicle to the fire.
Video shows helicopter over scene
A video shared with the Press Herald by Tiffany Mannarini, who lives in Appleton, showed a helicopter over the scene as flames and smoke rose over the smoldering lumber yard.
Witnesses said they saw two helicopters briefly land and take off near the fire. Flight radar indicated the helicopters were owned by LifeFlight of Maine.
Road closed in Appleton south of incident
APPLETON — State Route 131 northbound is closed at its intersection with State Route 105, with a state trooper directing traffic.
Lumber company was site of 2024 fire where no one was hurt
No one was hurt in a November 2024 fire at Robbins Lumber; firefighters contained it to a control room, according to multiple media reports.
Shortly after noontime Friday, no one could be seen at the boat landing, where an unattended vehicle with EMS plates was parked alongside two other vehicles.
Department of Public Safety confirms fire
Investigators from the state fire marshal’s office and rangers from the Maine Forest Service are responding to the lumber mill, Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Shannon Moss said.
She declined to release more information until investigators arrive at the scene.
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